Saturday, the Autism Center of Tulsa had their annual Ready, Set, Run 5K and Fun Run at Hunter Park. It is a major fundraiser for the orgainization and a celebration of the Heroes of the event which are the children who have been diagnosed with a form of autism. The idea is to form teams around the Heroes. Our Hero is SuperPizzaBoy.

(Don’t worry about the trampoline, the mat has been replaced and it is back in service. I am a little worried about the maniacal grin though. What do you think?)

His team was called “Logan’s Stormbreakers.” He had a scheduling conflict and couldn’t make it. Sweetie was his ride so she didn’t make the event either.

From left to right, Jonni, lucky Me, and Alyssa. I don’t know how I got in between two of the hottest women at the event. They are also two of the hottest mommybloggers in Tulsa. Jonni has That’s Baloney. She has a a great sense of humor and if you want to know what it is like being a mother to a child with Asperger’s Syndrome, hers is the blog to start with. Alyssa’s blog is Out on a Lam. She has a great sense of humor and blogs a lot about her children and her views on life in Oklahoma. Both are must reads whenever they post for me.

Alyssa was also nice enough to join SPB’s team and run in the 5K race. Kudo’s to you Alyssa. Jonni’s team for her son Michael was “The M Team.” She didn’t run the race, her husband “Doc” did. As usual, he kicked my butt, so I guess Jonni kicked my butt by proxy. Alyssa and Jonni are both killer facebook scrabble players.

The 5K is fun and all that but the big thing at this race is the Fun Run. This where the families who are affected by autism line up and walk around the pond at Hunter Park.

The line is incredibly long. The gun sounds and everybody proceeds in a leisurely stroll.

Since SPB wasn’t there, I started at the very last of the line with the team sign. It took about 10 minutes just to get to the starting line.

The event was very successful in terms of raising money, raising consciousness, and generating fun. I helped out a little bit before the run but there were some very hard working staff and volunteers.

Jennifer is a cofounder and codirector of the Autism Center of Tulsa, (“ACT”)and one of the nicest persons I’ve ever met.

Michelle and Robert. Michelle is also a cofounder and codirector of the organizaation. Her husband Brian is great guy and was SPB’s soccer coach for several years. Robert and I worked together the night before the event putting up signs and marking the course.

Christine is a hard working member of ACT and genuine nice person.

Shannon was in charge of the volunteers. She also put up signs and banners the night before the event. She is tireless and a demon facebook scrabble player besides.

We all had a lot of fun and am looking forward to next year.