VANCOUVER, Sept. 23, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Autism Speaks Canada invites you to join the autism community at the Vancouver Walk Now for Autism Speaks Canada on September 28 at Science World, Olympic Village. All of the proceeds from this event support the local and national work of Autism Speaks Canada, which together with Autism Speaks in the U.S.A., is the world's leading autism science and advocacy organization. Autism spectrum disorder is now diagnosed in 1 in 68 children, a 30% increase in prevalence in the last 2 years. Walk Now events raise over $1.4 million annually and involve over 11,000 participants and volunteers across Canada.
In addition to Autism Speaks Canada's national efforts, the organization has provided funding to many local service providers across British Columbia including Grants over the last 3 years to ACT - Autism Community Training, Friend 2 Friend Social Learning Society and Search & Rescue Society of B.C. The Vancouver Walk Now for Autism Speaks Canada, is locally sponsored by Global BC, McDonald's, ISNM, Pro Organics, Westcoast Families, Nestle Waters, The Centruy Plaza Hotel & Spa, Astro Collar, Shiamak's Victory Arts Foundation, Star Wars Troopers, Sirota's Alchymy Martial Arts & Life Skills Centre, JR Media Group, Justin Ruscheinski, Sandy Ruscheinski, Agnes Cariboo, Vancouver Aquarium and Randene Neill.
Walk Now is a fun, family-friendly event that includes a 3 km walk, Fun Zone with inflatables, performers, face painting, community Resource Fair and more.
"Thanks to the support of the ASD community and work of our wonderful volunteers, our Walk Now for Autism Speaks Canada event looks forward to a wonderful event bringing the autism community together in and around the Vancouver area," said Janet Anderson, Autism Speaks Canada's Regional Walk Manager,B.C.
National Presenting Sponsor Toys "R" Us and Babies "R" Us will host a tented area at The Walk, serving as home base for the company's mascot, Geoffrey the Giraffe. For more information about the 2014 Vancouver Walk Now for Autism Speaks Canada, please visit www.walknowforautismspeaks.ca. or call 1-888-362-6227.