This is not specifically an outdoorsy-ish post, but, it has to do with one of my great friends who I go backpacking with. My friend’s oldest daughter is on the autism spectrum, and each year we participate in the Autism Speaks Walk, and try to help fund research for a cure for this disease.

Each April 2, Autism Speaks celebrates Light It Up Blue along with the international autism community, in commemoration of the United Nations-sanctioned World Autism Awareness Day. Light It Up Blue is a unique global initiative that kicks-off Autism Awareness Month and helps raise awareness about autism. In honor of this historic day, many iconic landmarks, hotels, sporting venues, concert halls, museums, bridges and retail stores are among the hundreds of thousands of homes and communities that take part to Light It Up Blue.

How can I Light It Up Blue?

It’s easy for individuals and families, buildings, landmarks, retail locations, schools, universities and restaurants to Light It Up Blue! Simply change your light bulbs from white to blue.

Did you know …

• Autism now affects 1 in 88 children and 1 in 54 boys
• Autism prevalence figures are growing
• Autism is the fastest-growing serious developmental disability in the U.S.
• Autism costs a family $60,000 a year on average
• Autism receives less than 5% of the research funding of many less prevalent childhood diseases
• Boys are nearly five times more likely than girls to have autism
• There is no medical detection or cure for autism

National Institutes of Health Funds Allocation

• Total 2012 NIH budget: $30.86 billion
• Of this, only $169 million goes directly to autism research. This represents 0.55% of total NIH funding.

Do your part and help spread awareness, and even better – donate a few bucks to a great cause which affects so many people.

Notice: text in italics was directly borrowed from lightitupblue.org and austismspeaks.org