Ben Hill Griffin Stadium will be filled with people running stadiums for a cause on Saturday.
Stomp the Swamp, an annual fitness event hosted by UF’s IMPACT Autism, will start at 10 a.m.
The event aims to raise awareness for autism in the community. Proceeds go to UF’s Center for Autism and Related Disabilities.
Admission is $20 at the door and $15 in advance, kids 12 and under are free.
“I think it’s important to raise awareness of autism in the community and to have people come out to support the cause while having fun,” said Jillian Roberts, IMPACT Autism’s vice president and a 20-year-old communication sciences and disorders junior.
Last year’s event had about 600 participants and raised about $12,000 for UF’s Center for Autism and Related Disabilities, she said.
UF CARD assists families with children diagnosed with autism or other related diseases by helping them determine a diagnosis and treatment, providing training for parents, teachers and children, as well as offering support groups free of cost, said Greg Valcante, director and founder of UF CARD.
IMPACT Autism’s president, Cierra Quigley, said the event is extremely important to her.
”I have a 21-year-old brother with autism, so I know first hand how important the services CARD provides are,” said the 22-year-old communications sciences and disorders senior.
The event was formerly run by UF CARD, but IMPACT Autism started planning Stomp the Swamp last year, which greatly increased their participation and funding, said Roberts.
“The event shows our hard work and dedication that we put into IMPACT Autism,” she said. “It’s a way to let the community know that we are doing everything we can to raise awareness for autism.”
