People in the Strait Area have some opportunities to show support for the autism community. This Saturday at 2PM, a fundraiser pool tournament is being held at Dooly’s in Port Hawkesbury. The event is being organized by local mother Shannon MacDougall who has a child that is on the spectrum. She came up with the idea after dropping off a donation jar for her son at the pool hall. The registration deadline is September 15th and there are prizes that people can win for first, second, and third place.
The entry fee is $25, and all proceeds raised at the tournament will go towards the Autism Nova Scotia Strait Area Chapter and the funding will be used to cover the costs of events like the upcoming Walk Your Way for Autism. “Walk Your Way for Autism is a way for us to be out in the community and showing our support and awareness for people that are different.” Says MacDougall. The walk is set begin at the Port Hawkesbury Community Park at 11AM on September 24th
MacDougall says that more services for people with autism are needed in the Strait Area. She wants to see shorter wait lists for autism services and more community support groups for children with autism and their parents. She says being a special needs parent is hard but knowing that you have a community that understands you and supports you makes it easier to be a caregiver.
If you would like more information about the pool tournament fundraiser, the Walk Your Way for Autism event or if you have ideas for future fundraisers, you can contact MacDougall at shannonmacdougall86@gmail.com or you can contact her on Facebook. You can keep up to date with the Strait Area Autism Chapter on their Facebook page as well.
You can learn more about autism at autismnovascotia.ca
