Help Thomas raise money

Thomas is Running for a Reason for Autism Connection of PA for his second straight year. He enjoyed running with a family relay team in 2025 so much that he decided to go bigger in the half marathon this year.  

His original "autism connection" started when he was four years old, playing with a backyard neighbor, a same-age peer who was nonspeaking and liked to do all the playground stuff. Getting Matt to toss a ball, playing with him in a ball pit, or taking turns following each other in climbing tubes and slides was fun and rewarding. This continued in a kindergarten afterschool playgroup with other neurotypical kids joining to learn how to support and engage their classmate in games and snack making. Reaching Matt as a play buddy, often without needing words, was just cool.  

Thomas is glad to support Autism Connection's mission to be a lifeline and hub, because it helps people of all ages, including those stuck in terrible situations. and people like Matt who is now 33 years old! Much of the world is not as supportive as his childhood friends were learning to be, but Autism Connection works to make things more accessible, just, and supportive. He's not sure he will break records in the half, but he is sure this is a very worthy cause he's picked as his reason to run!