(Gallery by Hilton Flores)
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The specter of Hurricane Sandy didn't stop hundreds of Staten Islanders from heading to the beach Sunday, to take part in the first Staten Island Walk Now for Autism Speaks event."I think it's great. I didn't expect this many people," said Colleen Mahoney of Emerson Hill.
Ms. Mahoney was out walking in support of her nephew -- and she said it seemed many people she knew were related to or otherwise knew someone with autism.
"I think it's definitely more prevalent, especially in Staten Island," she said.
While many Islanders affected have taken part in Autism Speaks walks in Manhattan in the past, Sunday was the borough's inaugural walk. Though the sky was gray and bulldozers were building sand berms nearby, the mile-and-a-half walk went off without a hitch.
The event raised more than $158,000, according to the Autism Speaks website.
Maria Palazzalo of Great Kills was walking with family and friends in support of her son, Michael, 9, who has autism and is nonverbal.
"We just want to show support," she said. "We do have a lot of families on Staten Island affected by this and we want to get more services for them.
Ms. Palazzalo said it meant a lot to have the support of family and friends yesterday. "Even if there is a hurricane," she added.
Richard Potter of Richmond was walking for his grandson, Luke Horlebein, 4, of West Brighton, who has autism.
"It's wonderful," he said of being able to walk closer to home. "We kept asking for it here on Staten Island. Unfortunately (autism) is like an epidemic here on Staten Island."
Potter said autism -- the broad term for a spectrum of social and intellectual disorders -- affects the whole family.
"I think it brings out the family love even more than otherwise, if that's possible," he said.
And walking meant raising money and awareness, he said.
"We just keep praying, and raising money, and trying to do whatever we can do," Potter said.
Source: http://www.silive.com/news/index.ssf/2012/10/despite_the_coming_storm_hundr.html
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