Bike ride to raise money for autism group

Staff Reports

October 19, 2007 11:41 pm

— MOULTRIE — Jerry Goodwin has ridden his bicycle to help charities on many occasions, such as for Toys for Tots, cystic fibrosis and even the South Georgia Food Bank. He will ride more than 100 miles today for a charity that is a little closer to home.
Goodwin will be riding to help raise funds and awareness for the SOWEGA Autism Resources Inc. This is a group out of Albany that helps parents of children with autism find the proper resources to help them deal with the problem.
The reason this is closer to home is that Goodwin and his wife Ruth have two children who have been diagnosed with autism. Scot, now 35, and Christopher, now 27, were diagnosed when the incidence of autism was 1 in 10,000 live births and struck five times as many males as females. The incidence according to statistics is now 1 in 150 live births overall and 1 in 94 males.
The Goodwins and SOWEGA Autism Resources want to help parents find the resources they need to help deal with autism in their children. There will be a tent set up in the lot directly across from Southern Grace Coffee Shop Boutique where people can find out more about autism and resources available or make donations. The donations from the ride will be used to help send parents to the National Autism Conference in Atlanta. Donations can be left before or after the ride at Southern Grace Coffee Shop in Moultrie.
A tent will also be set up at the Albany Wal-Mart where parents will be able to pick up information on resources in the South Georgia area.
Other cyclists are encouraged to ride along part or all the way to the show their support or just for the ride.