Virtual Run Set for Autism Speaks Cleveland Chapter

With COVID-19 sweeping the globe, many organizations such as Autism Speaks turn to virtual opportunities to assist with annual fundraisers.

Around the world, charities face many issues because of COVID-19, including the ability to hold their annual fundraisers. One organization, the Cleveland chapter of Autism Speaks, has turned to a virtual fun run to try and raise some much-needed funds.

Usually, the 14th annual Autism Speaks fun run would be held outdoors, but with the COVID-19 pandemic continues to sweep across the United States, creative alternatives must be established. By this point of the year, the Cleveland chapter of Autism Speaks would have raised approximately $350,000, but their current total fundraising for the year was a little over 15% of that amount, leaving them dangerously short of money.

Rather than have runners come together from around the country and risk spreading COVID-19, the Cleveland chapter of Autism Speaks decided to host a virtual fun run.

“With the concerns and the numbers of our area, [the press organization] decided it would be best to go virtual because the safety of our families and volunteers are the most important thing to us right now,” said Leslie Bloom, Manager of Field Development for the Northern Ohio chapter of Autism Speaks.

“The pandemic has affected our families so much harder than other families because of the lapse of resources and services,” explained Bloom. “Our families were really hit hard, so this year there’s a lot of people who just can’t participate.”

With so many people and organizations across the United States and around the world affected by COVID-19, we’re going to see many more creative ideas to raise money and come together in a safer virtual way. If you would like to help out, Autism Speaks with a donation. You can do so via this link. There are also various other ways to help if you are interested in taking part in events and fundraisers.