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"Autism is one of the fastest growing diagnoses we see in pediatric medicine and the support, education and resources available for families is not where it should be," said Dr. Charles Parmele, an Annapolis Pediatrician and member of the Bowen Foundation's board of directors. "The money and awareness we raise will go toward helping families effectively combat this disease and will support groups like Autism Speaks, the Kennedy Krieger Institute and the National Institutes of Health who are aggressively seeking to understand and cure autism."
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The 'Cruise for a Cure' featured live music and refreshments and offered several open discussions on effective ways for families and individuals to combat the growing disease. Autism currently is diagnosed in 1 of every 150 children born in the U.S., making it more common than pediatric cancer, diabetes and AIDS combined. It occurs in all racial, ethnic and social groups and is four times more likely to strike boys than girls. Autism impairs a person's ability to communicate and relate to others.
"Helping other families face the same reality mine did a few years ago and searching for a cure and understanding of the disease is what we are really trying to do," said Bryan Levy, founder of the Bowen Foundation. "Facing the autism spectrum diagnosis is difficult enough for any parent and we want to make sure that autism-affected families know we are here, know they are not alone, and build a community of hope."
About the Bowen Foundation
The Bowen Foundation is a 501c3, non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness and resources for the prevention, treatment, education and research efforts related to conditions consistent with the autism spectrum diagnosis and to improve the lives of families and individuals with these conditions, primarily here in Maryland. For more information, please visit www.bowenfoundation.org.
SOURCE The Bowen Foundation
