CAMDEN — By PATRIC FLANNIGAN
Staff writer
The Eighth Annual Walk for Autism will be held from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Saturday at Coleman Stadium at the Camden Fairview Intermediate School.
The event is organized by Autistic Voyage founder, author, and philanthropist - Wyletta Johnson.
The Autism Walk is shaping up to be one of the biggest in its eight-year history as support for the event continues to grow. Flaming Pig BBQ, Hog Wash, La Loma Grill, Woods Place, Save a Lot, Shine Shop, Bounds Tire and McDonald’s are a few of the local businesses that have given gift certificates for door prizes for at the walk. The New Haven Puppet People Ministry, Anointed Praise Team and Children of Christ will perform, as will Youthful Praize and teenage rapper, Drizzy Tae.
Ivan Smith, Graphic Sensations and Generations Bank have donated items to be given away in the numerous contests during the annual walk.
Elanena White - Christian author of nine books - will be at the Autism Walk to converse with and encourage people. White’s books have covered topics such as living with mental illness, and overcoming childhood trauma.
Paparazzi Jewelry, She Plus, She Plus Teens, the cast of Worth The Wait - a Paula Aaron Production, the Team Kelly Foundation, Avon, Classy and Sassy by Brittany Hicks, The Daughters of the King No. 6, and the Brothers of Architect Lodge No. 90 will all be in attendance.
Immediately following the event, the Rev. Stephone Avery of St. Paul Christian Church will be flying kites for autism awareness and will have extra kites on hand for the attendees.
The event will also feature a booth for Lupus awareness and candy will be sold to benefit Oakley Nimmo in his fight with cancer. The Second to None Motorcycle Club will also have their bikes available for children to sit on and take pictures.
Johnson sang the praises of the community and local businesses for their support with the event this year. She stated that the items that were donated will be available for purchase via different contests to raise funds for the Autism All Stars Banquet, and as graduation and birthday gifts for area children who have autism. Johnson also shared that 380 shirts have been sold for the event this year.
“I can’t thank people like Mrs. (Angela) Avery, Tina Sams and Dre Romby enough,” Johnson said. “They came to me and asked about being involved every year. I don’t have to go looking for them. They aren’t paid anything for it, they just really do it for the cause.”
Johnson said that she is extremely excited about Saturday and that she is praying for clear weather. She explained that one of the highlights of the Walk for Autism is the fact that she gets to meet new families that participate every year. She stated that the participants and the vendors are from areas throughout the state.
Johnson has made it her mission to raise awareness about autism. In 2016, she told of how she was happy that the event could be held in Camden after spending its first few years being hosted in El Dorado. Over the past seven years, the event has outgrown venues and nearly tripled in size each year. Johnson has also made it a point to emphasize children with autism involved in the walk.
For more information about the event, contact Johnson at 675-1332, or search Annual Walk for Autism on Facebook.