SAN MARCOS: Boy races, walks on behalf of autistic nephew

By ELENA CRISTIANO - For the North County Times | Thursday, October 30, 2008 6:08 PM PDT ∞
SAN MARCOS ---- Christopher Tavares is an 8-year old with a big heart.

The third-grader at Richland Elementary School is a junior dragster ---- 8- to 17-year-olds who race in half-scale versions of real top fuel dragsters.

But unlike kids racing for all the thrills and recognition, Christopher competes for his 8-year-old nephew Steven Tavares, who has autism ---- a brain development disorder that impairs an individual's ability both to communicate and interact with other people.

"I race for Steven because he can't race," Christopher said this week.

Christopher said he knows Steven "likes it a lot" because he claps and smiles.

"Usually, when I am not racing, he does not smile," said Christopher.

Christopher isn't just racing on his nephew's behalf. He passed out more than 200 fundraising fliers last month at a Cruisin' Grand event in Escondido that featured top fuel dragsters. He is also part of a team of 20 walkers named Steven's Hope that will participate in Saturday's Walk Now for Autism, an annual event in San Diego's Balboa Park organized by the national Cure Autism Now Foundation.

"Lots and lots of kids are autistic," said Christopher. "Steven is really smart, but he doesn't talk or play with me and I want to help him."

Martha Tavares, Christopher's mother and Steven's grandmother, said she discovered that her son had autism when she took both boys, then 2, to a speech therapist. She said the therapist kept staring at Steven and finally said, "I think your grandson has autism."

Until then, she said she knew very little about autism. She and her daughter, Janean, a San Diego County deputy sheriff, had to learn quickly about the complex brain disorder she describes as devastating.

Tavares said the family had T-shirts and cards made up explaining that Steven has autism so people would understand and be more understanding at his occasional fitful behaviors in public.

She said her son often communicates for her grandson because Christopher seems to possess a special ability to interpret Steven's body language.

Autism is diagnosed in 1 in 150 children in the United States, affects four times as many boys as girls, and has increased tenfold in the last decade, according to Cure Autism Now. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have called autism a national public health crisis whose cause and cure remain unknown.

Tavares said she's encouraging everyone to join the walk Saturday, noting that same-day registration is available at the event. Registration begins at 8 a.m. and the walk takes off from the park at 9 a.m. There will also be a free resource fair, carnival-themed activities, children's crafts and live music.

For more information, visit www.walknowforautism.org.

Elena Cristiano is a freelance writer for the North County Times.

SOURCE: North County Times