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Monday, November 5, 2007  ̶  Just "accidentally" came across a link for an event in the DFW area called the Round-Up for Autism, and what a fantastic idea this is! As the parent of an ASD/Asperger's son (who loves rodeo nearly as much as his parents), I love the concept of a western event to raise funds and awareness for the disorder! This is awesome! It makes me wish I could send an email to all the Committee Members, Sponsors, and Contestants just for putting on something like this -- it is refreshing and inspirational!

The biggest thing for me is that it primes the imagination as to what might be done locally. We might not have big stars like Will Clark, Larry Mahan, Mickey Tettleton and Lynn "Rose Garden" Anderson to serve on a committee, and certainly don't have the constituency to fill an arena like Dallas offers, but we absolutely have plenty to offer, and there is plenty of good that can be done! All we need is: an arena, stock, a committee, contestants, sponsors, announcer...

Clearly the opportunity for ASD kids to spend time around some good stock and the high quality cowboys and cowgirls of the greater Rocky Mtn. west has nothing but good potential. There is little in the world better for these kids than some equine therapy, and how awesome would it be to show up at the "rodeo grounds" to get the word from the "real deal"? Nothing but good things can happen from that!
This could be life changing for some!

Let's go Idaho!

Stars Turn Out to Fight Autism

By Brian Porter, Managing Editor, Mesquite News
Wednesday, October 3, 2007 3:25 PM CDT  ̶  A renowned local actor, Super Bowl champion and a Texas Ranger were among the stars which turned out Friday for the 19th annual Round-Up for Autism at the Mesquite Championship Rodeo.

The event is sandwiched between a parade in Fort Worth and a ball in Dallas during a time in which funding is raised for the Autism Treatment Centers of Texas.

“Autism is found today in one in 150 children,” said Heather Russell, director of the Round-Up for Autism. “This disease has really become very prominent. We are not sure why it is increasing.”

Gina Archer, co-chair of the event for the past 12 years, indicates the disease was found in one in 10,000 children when she began working with the Autism Treatment Centers of Texas.

“This is probably one of the greatest causes,” she said. “Nine of every 10 cases involves boys and every case is different.”

Those children afflicted with the disease need about $54,000 on average for treatment annually, Archer said.

A cutting horse event took place Friday in which Barry Corbin, Larry Mahan, Jay Novacek and a Texas Ranger all participated. It was staged in addition to the annual delivery of saddlebags from the Round-Up for Autism, which resulted in $22,000 being raised. The weekend event was projected to raise around $300,000. For the past five years, the Mesquite Championship Rodeo has participated in the event.

“It has been more successful every year,” Russell said. “That is a great thing to say about an event.”

The Autism Treatment Centers of Texas is in its 31st year and has helped countless numbers of children afflicted with the disease.

“We have riders come up from Houston on Quarter horses like in the old days of the Pony Express,” Russell said. “They put on rodeos, barbecues and other events and the money raised goes in the saddle bags.”

It is believed to be a unique fundraiser, incorporating rodeo into the event.

“It is something we would like to see peppered across the nation,” Russell said.

Corbin has participated in the event since 1993. He arrived Friday and met the horse he would ride for the first time. He told the audience he would have done better, but it was the first time he had been aboard a cutting horse in three years.

“The horse did everything right,” he told the audience, “it’s the guy on the horse.”

The event began when Bob Norris, the original Marlboro Man, had a granddaughter who was autistic and his son Bobby learned about the Autism Treatment Centers of Texas and founded the event

“These cowboys have been helping handicapped children for sometime,” he said. “It is a great feeling to come and feel blessed that you are able to help them.”

Norris tells a story of a child afflicted with autism which once aboard a horse smiled for the first time.

“When you are on a horse and that child is on a horse,” he said, “you look at each other eyeball to eyeball.”

The ball in Dallas includes an auction which may be like any other at a fundraiser across the country.

“We gave a horse valued at $26,000,” Norris said. “Someone else gave a car. People have supported this well.”

Norris says a trip to the Autism Treatment Centers of Texas is all it takes to become involved. He indicates once there visitors have a feeling for good work being done by good people.

“We are just ecstatic to be a part of it,” said Mark Miller, general manager of the Mesquite Championship Rodeo. “Celebrities come out and that gives fans something unique to see. There is not a cure for autism. This is a high profile way for us (the Mesquite Championship Rodeo), and the city of Mesquite, to give back to a good cause.”