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| The Elias
Tembenis Walk for Autism is a journey across America to
benefit families struggling to pay for autism therapy
and medical services. Two friends of the Tembenis
Family, Robert Williams and Bobby Genese, both of
Worcester, MA, will begin their walk in May 2008.
The walk will
start on Route 50 in San Francisco and end on the
Discovery Trail in Washington, DC. The estimated
time of completion for the 3,000 walk is 10 to 12
months. To see a map and learn more about the
trails, please visit:
www.route50.com
www.discoverytrail.org
EVENT DETAILS
Kickoff Date:
May 13, 2008
Kickoff City: San
Francisco
Ending City:
Washington, DC, 2009 |
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|
 Our
beautiful son Elias was born in the summer of 2000 to
great fanfare. He was our first and only child and
the first grandchild as well. The day after his
first Christmas he had his 4 month appointment to
received shots. That night he began having
seizures and we rushed him to the hospital. He
began medication and was diagnosed with a seizure
disorder. Within the next few months, we began to
see our bright, happy boy turn into himself, staring at
lights and spinning his toys. That is where this
journey began with our son Elias and the world of
Autism.
He was
diagnosed around the age of two with PDD-NOS and was in
an Early Intervention Program. At age 3 he began
public preschool in a inclusive setting. He
received PT, OT and Speech in the school, as well as ABA
at home. We found him a DAN doctor and started him
on GF/CF diet and supplements and vitamins he was
lacking. At age 4, he started private OT,
Craniosacral Therapy and Therapeutic horseback riding.
He started to make gains. His language started to
come together and he was getting more interactive with
us. He wanted to play with us!
At age 6,
we started giving him methyl B-12 and an antiviral
medication. We noticed his speech started to take
off and he could speak in sentences and even ask for
help if he needed it! He was attending public
school in the first grade in an inclusion program.
He loved his first grade class and was proficient in
reading and spelling. He aced his first spelling
test! We were so proud and so was he. Family and
friends noticed the changes in him. We really felt he
was on the way to recovery. Then his too brief journey
ended. The seizures that plagued his young life were
also what took him from us.
Elias will
always be our hero. He was our strength and our light
and will continue to be always. He has a joyous
spirit and an infectious smile that would light up a
room. He had a great sense of humor and loved to
make us laugh. He was the love of our lives.
We will miss him forever, but we know his spirit is with
us always.
Harry and
Gina Tembenis |
| If you
would like to support the Elias Tembenis Walk, there are
several ways:
1. Sponsor
Robert and Bobby on their walk across America.
Make a secure,
online donation by
clicking here.
2. Become
a "trailblazer" corporate sponsor by donating $2,000 or
more, and
your company logo will be showcased at the top of this
web page.
3.
For other corporate opportunities, please write to
lori@nationalautism.org
or call 1-877-NAA-AUTISM.
4.
Download the
Elias Walk Brochure and
start your own walk team.
5. Visit
the Elias Walk firstgiving page and set up your own
virtual walk team at
www.firstgiving.com/naa. |
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You may also
send checks to:
NATIONAL
AUTISM ASSOCIATION
ATTN: Rita Shreffler
1330 W. Schatz Lane
Nixa, MO 65714 |
| A
majority of the proceeds generated from the walk will
benefit The Helping Hand Program through The National
Autism Association.
With greater
autism numbers comes greater need for services.
Unfortunately, most insurance plans do not cover autism
services. NAA's Helping Hand Program was developed
as a financial aid tool for families who need it most.
The program helps qualified families pay for medical and
therapy services used to treat children diagnosed with
autism.
Since the
program's inception in 2003, NAA's Helping Hand Fund has
distributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to families
within the autism community. Allocated funds are
paid directly to the service providers. Partial
proceeds will benefit autism initiatives in Elias's
hometown of Worcester, Massachusetts.
For
more information, please visit:
http://www.nationalautismassociation.org/helpinghand.php
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