On May 18, the second Run For Autism charity race was held in Astana, raising ₸13 million (as of May 22, 2024, $29,434) to open new resource rooms in kindergartens for neurodivergent children, QazMonitor reports.
Race: Organized by the Bolashak Corporate Fund, with the support of the administration of Astana City and its partners, Run For Autism seeks to raise awareness about autism, enhance the quality of life for autistic individuals, and foster conditions for their socialization.
The race featured four distances – 1 km, 2.5 km, 5 km, and 10 km, attracting a total of 2330 participants from various cities across Kazakhstan, including Astana, Almaty, Aktobe, Arkalyk, Atyrau, Ekibastuz, Karagandy, Kokshetau, Kostanay, Kyzylorda, Oral, Oskemen, Pavlodar, Semey, Shakhtinsk, Stepnogorsk, and Taldykorgan.
Among the participants were boccia athletes, deaf athletes, amateurs, special needs education specialists, over 120 neurodivergent children, and their parents. Additionally, 24 people joined the online race from various cities across Kazakhstan.
The registration fees ranged from ₸5,990 to ₸8,990 ($13.56–$20.36).
All participants who completed the race received commemorative medals, while winners in each distance category were awarded diplomas and medals. Each runner received a start package containing a shopper, a T-shirt, a race number, a raffle ticket, a food coupon, a program, and a chocolate bar. Moreover, the event included ‘Jolly Starts’ (Веселые старты), a sports and entertainment relay race in which over 100 autistic children and children with other developmental disorders participated. Following the race, these children received medals and gifts from the event partners.
The funds raised today will be used to open resource rooms in kindergartens because inclusion should begin at an early age. Within that environment, a child with mental disorders has a much better chance of successful learning and socialization in the future. We appreciate our sponsors and partners for supporting such a large-scale event. Every year, more and more participants register for the race, indicating that the information reaches a broader audience. We are pleased that society is becoming increasingly open, and we hope to educate as many people as possible about autism while addressing inclusion issues at all levels.
Run For Autism: A part of an international initiative aimed at raising funds to support autism research, Run For Autism is held in various formats such as marathons, half-marathons, triathlons, runs, and more. These races are organized in major cities worldwide, including New York, London, Berlin, Chicago, Pittsburgh, and others.
In April 2023, Kazakhstan hosted its inaugural Run For Autism, drawing over 1,100 participants from 7 cities across the country, including 96 children with special needs. The event raised ₸7 million ($15,849) in charitable funds. Bolashak utilized these funds to equip three resource rooms in kindergartens No. 54, No. 60, and No. 66 in Astana, where 18 autistic children now receive specialized support.