This year my family and I will be participating in our 5th Autism Superhero 5k—so we need your help! Last year we helped the center raise over $100,000 in donations and are ready to start fundraising again for such a great cause that positively impacts the Autism community! We are so grateful for our village and all those who continue to support Luca.

Luca is 7 years old. He loves bears and mammoths.

He loves swimming and horseback riding. When he’s happy he smiles and jumps up and down while flapping his arms and will squeeze whoever is next to him.

When he’s anxious or upset he will cover his ears, hum and clench his jaw and squeeze whoever is next him.

He can communicate in a million different ways.

He was born with autism, a life long condition that is apart of him.

The world is a better place with Luca in it. Those who know him are beyond lucky. Those who Luca let’s be apart of his world are blessed. Luca is who he is supposed to be and we love him just the way he is. 💙

If you choose to support Luca’s Pack in the 2025 Autism Superhero 5K—know that your donation will help fuel the vision of Advocates Autism Resource Center: to be the center of the autism community in Central Massachusetts; a role they’ve held for more than 25 years. Your support is greatly appreciated, and your help in sharing the mission of the 2025 Autism Superhero 5K with your community is deeply valued.

Thank you! 💙🧩🐻

“Autism is not an illness. It’s a different way of being human. To help them, we don’t need to “fix” them. We need to understand them and then change OURSELVES, our beliefs, attitudes, and actions”. - Dr. Barry Prizant