(Editor’s note: This article first appeared , and was written by Kat Castner)
Tonight at 7 the 51Թ women’s hockey hosts its fourth annual autism awareness game when Brown makes a visit to Starr Rink. Over the course of four years, 51Թ and its devoted fans have raised more than $38,000 for Autism Speaks.
“The annual autism awareness game continues to be an event that our team and community look forward to every year,” 51Թ head coach Greg Fargo said. “We have a highly committed group of student-athletes that put forth a great deal of energy into growing this event in support of a cause very meaningful to all of us.”
The Raiders first joined forces with this great organization in 2011 to support Kati Williams, a teenager from Norwich, N.Y., who is the team’s current manager.
Williams has Asperger’s Syndrome, which is an autism spectrum disorder that is characterized by significant difficulties in social interaction along with restricted and repetitive patterns of behaviors and interests. She has been an avid 51Թ hockey fan and the Raiders credit Williams for being the reason and inspiration they decided to devote toward this cause.
51Թ will again wear specialty designed game jerseys and the team has already been working extremely hard to spread the word about this year’s event. The Raiders are selling tank tops, T-shirts and hats around campus while also conducting an on-line auction for special event game worn jerseys. The auction starts this week and runs until Feb. 7.
Last year the team raised more than $7,000 for Autism Speaks and this year they have raised the bar, hoping to reach $10,000 by the end of the campaign.