Why I Walk

This weekend I’ll be participating in Walk Now for Autism Speaks Puget Sound. It’s an event in which the kids and I have participated for years. We started walking for autism even before Ben was aware he had autism. The event is important to us. We raise money, recruit walkers and design truly awesome Team Heagler t-shirts (and sometimes even tie-dye them). And this year, I’ve even been asked to speak at the opening ceremonies. Among others, I will be speaking for three to five minutes on the topic of “Why I Walk.” That seems easy enough, right?

I walk for Ben. Obviously. In my speech I will most certainly say that I walk for Ben. Not because I want to change him, but because I want to affect change for him.

In my speech, I also plan to say that I walk for Lucy. Not only because she’s helpful, compassionate, protective and wise beyond her years, but also because I wish she didn’t have to be.

And finally, I plan to say that I walk for myself in the hopes that I might have the strength to raise awareness, change opinions and advocate for these kids. But not just for me – for all the moms who walked this road before me and all the moms who will walk this road after me.

Three to five minutes – Ben, Lucy, me. That’s all I’ll have time for, but that’s not all there is. I walk for so much more.

I walk for the Crandells, our family of choice. Because they love us for who we are and support us without reservation, hesitation or conditions. They’ve seen it all and like us anyway. They’re my heroes. All three of them.

I walk for Suzanne and Gretchen, the original Boozy Mommies, who have been with me from the beginning, through thick and thin (and god knows how many bottles of wine) and who have always taught their kids that Ben is just Ben…their friend.

I walk for the amazing Miss Melissa, part-time nanny turned Boozy Mommy, who has probably seen me cry more than anyone in this world. Melissa was in my house day in and day out when Ben was a baby and through his diagnosis. We gave her a truly crappy, part-time nanny gig and in return she gave us friendship, compassion and loyalty.

I walk for Troy who has enough love in his heart for all of us.

I walk for The Divine Miss Jane whose baby gift – an amazing, lovingly-compiled CD set – I hold responsible for Ben’s love of music.

I walk for Ben’s friends at school…Mallory who looks out for him, Erika who empathizes with him and Angie who includes him.

I walk for Vicki and Kirk who are never afraid to take Ben on an adventure, even knowing it could go terribly wrong and they might have to turn back at a moment’s notice.

I walk for grandparents who love him unconditionally.

The list goes on and on....I could certainly never recognize everyone (as much as I wish I could). I walk for all of you who laugh with us and cry with us. Who cheer, encourage, support and commiserate with us. Without you, we’d be lost.

Team Heagler ROCKS because of you.

Click here to see my walk-day speech