Naperville father takes on Ironman for sons with autism
The Autism News | English
Families impacted by autism know that each day brings new challenges to endure. Naperville resident Howard Weiss knows this as well as anyone. Weiss has two sons with autism disorders.
Weiss saw the correlation between families dealing with autism and an Ironman. He decided that by competing he could raise both money and awareness for a cause close to his heart.
“(For families dealing with autism), it’s kind of an endurance race every day,” Weiss said. “I thought it relates to this Ironman, which is really the endurance event of all endurance events.”
Weiss’s 12-year-old son, Jackson, who attends Hill Middle School, is a high-functioning autistic, and 10-year-old Benjamin, who attends Brookdale Elementary School, has been diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome. After Weiss went through the normal emotions that parents of autistic children go through — from denial to attempts to find a cure, to hopelessness and then coming to terms with the diagnosis — he felt he needed to take some kind of action.
“I was looking for something to do to get involved,” said Weiss, who is executive vice president of Esser Hayes Insurance Group in Naperville, “(and) feel like I was making a difference.”
More than a year ago, he learned about Turning Pointe Autism Foundation in Naperville, and was moved by the work they are doing. Weiss said he was especially impressed with Turning Pointe’s mission and the hope of helping children with autism become meaningful, competent adults.
Weiss got involved, serving on Turning Pointe’s board and executive committee. He then decided he wanted to participate in the Ironman Wisconsin on Sept. 11, which consists of a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride and 26.2-mile marathon all in one day. He also would use it as a springboard to fundraise for Turning Pointe. His goal is to raise $10,000 to go toward the foundation’s $150,000 yearly operational fund. Weiss told friends and family about his mission, but he was surprised when word got out in the community.
“A lot of people have called me with their stories,” Weiss said. “I’ve turned them on to the message of Turning Pointe, which is that there is opportunity for these children.”
Weiss said he understands that parents of children with autism oftentimes become secluded because of their children’s behavioral or social issues. He said that he can relate to those feelings of hopelessness.
“My hope is that through this I can reach out to those families and let them know there is something out there to be hopeful for,” Weiss said.
According to Drew Glassford, executive director at Turning Pointe, the foundation’s typical fundraising comes from private families and corporate partners. But Glassford said Weiss is not the typical fundraiser.
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