Woodbridge Soccer Hosts Autism Awareness Game

Wednesday night, May 18, the Woodbridge Senior High School Girls Varsity Soccer Team faced off against their longstanding rival Forest Park High School. This game was a fundraiser supporting Autism Speaks , which according to their website is "the nation's largest autism science and advocacy organization."

Autism Awareness is a serious issue for many families in America. According to statistics, autism affects 1 out of 110 children, and 1 out of every 70 boys.

Scott Kerns, Woodbridge coach, became familiar with the Rockledge Elementary Autism Support Group through his wife Amy Kern's work as the school counselor. In order to increase awareness of Autism and how it affects those who have it, the administration at Rockledge and the Rockledge Autism Support Group approached the Woodbridge soccer coach to host a benefit for Autism Speaks.

"After last year's successful game to support Breast Cancer awareness, we decided this year to do two benefit games each season, when we play against Forest Park," Kern said.

The rivalry brings in big numbers to support the teams and this translates into money for the cause.  The Breast Cancer Awareness benefit was held at Forest Park last week.

Autism Awareness has garnered great support from teachers and staff at WSHS, many of whom have been touched by autism in some way. One teacher even purchased and donated all the ribbons worn by the players and Autism Speaks puzzle pins to be given to donors at the game.

 Funds were raised through donations taken at the game and from several raffles. The grand prize raffle was a one night stay at Great Wolf Lodge valued at nearly $300.

For Forest Park Coach David Cresswell, this is a cause close to his heart, as he has twin 17 year old sons who have Asperger's Syndrome, an autism spectrum disorder. Though they are high functioning, they have had their share of struggles over the years. Cresswell feels that this benefit  is important, "not just as a way to raise money, but also to personalize autism."

Cresswell recounted an experience when one of his sons struggled while performing the National Anthem before a soccer game. Some people in the audience took it as disrespect. Cresswell sees awareness events like this game as a chance to educate people that "sometimes this is what children with autism do." Cresswell put it best. "It helps people see they are not evil or weird, and just accept them."

A coordinator for the Rockledge Autism Support Group, Kelly Curry, is a parent to twin boys, one of whom is autistic. Curry was instrumental in starting the support group.

As the number of children identified with autism continues to rise at Rockledge, Curry said, "Another parent, Penny Grabowski, and I wanted parents to have a place to gather information, share resources, have encouragement and support."

They meet  monthly, alternating support meetings with special workshops and speakers. While the support group is limited to Rockledge families, the workshops are open to any parents of autistic children who attend sister schools in the Old Bridge Corridor.  Curry said she "would love to see the group become a valuable source of support for parents of school-age autistic children in the Lake Ridge area."

WSHS may have lost the game 1-2, but Autism Awareness was the true winner of the game.

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