WALK NOW Baltimore/Washington, DC is a 5K (3.1 mile) family walk and autism community resource fair heightening public awareness and raising money to fund autism research. The resource fair includes educational resources, therapists, schools, recreational organizations, and creative child-friendly activities. Proceeds from WALK NOW Baltimore/Washington, DC will support Cure Autism Now's ongoing efforts to find the causes, effective treatments, prevention and a cure for autism.

Honorary co-hosts and co-founders of Pathfinders for Autism BJ and Polly Surhoff; media host Marianne Bannister (Anchorwoman, WBAL-TV); Doreen Gentzler (NBC4 News Anchor); Steve Geppi (Owner & Publisher, Baltimore Magazine); Peter Bell (CEO of Cure Autism Now); with support from Honorary Committee members including Congressman Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), who will provide opening remarks at the ceremony and attend the Walk afterward. Numerous advocates will also be in attendance: They include Beth Eisman (Chair of WALK NOW Baltimore/Washington, DC), Rob Eisman, Arielle Dorros, Deb Gordon, Joel L. Simon, Peter Beveridge, and Karen Beveridge (Mid-Atlantic President of Cure Autism Now). Thousands of local families and friends also will join in raising awareness at WALK NOW Baltimore/Washington, DC.

Saturday, October 15, 2005, 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. WALK NOW registration begins at 8:00 a.m.; the opening ceremony is at 9:00 a.m.; the Walk begins at 9:30 a.m.; the closing ceremony begins at 11:30 a.m. The resource fair is open from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. There is no fee to participate.

WALK NOW Baltimore/Washington, DC provides a fun, easy, and family-friendly way to help raise funds for critical autism research. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in 166 children born today will eventually be diagnosed with autism, a neurological disorder that affects a person's ability to communicate and relate to others. Founded in 1995 by parents, clinicians, and leading scientists, Cure Autism Now is dedicated to finding the causes, effective treatments, prevention and a cure for autism and related disorders. Cure Autism Now has committed more than $25 million to research and treatments since its inception. During that time, it has established and maintained the Autism Genetic Resource Exchange (AGRE), as well as numerous outreach and awareness initiatives aimed at families, physicians, governmental officials, and the general public.

FedExField, 1600 FedEx Way, Landover, MD 20785-4534

To register, donate, or for information, visit www.walknow.org, or call 1-888-8AUTISM.