Paden City residents Leslie Pierce and Tomela Paden both have children with autism, just like thousands of other parents across the country and around the world.

Approximately every 20 minutes a parent learns that her child has autism, a complex brain disorder that inhibits a person’s ability to communicate and develop social relationships. It is often accompanied by extreme behavioral challenges.

But a challenge is just what Pierce and Paden are willing to take on to help raise money to fight autism and help parents and children cope with the disease. For three years the ladies have taken part in the Walk for Autism in Warwood. However, that takes place during the prime fund-raising season for Relay for Life. Plus, they wanted to do something closer to home that would help the cause championed by Autism Speaks.

That is why they are organizing the first poker ride to raise money for the national organization dedicated to increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders, to funding research into the causes, prevention, and treatments for autism, and to advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families. The local group headed up by Pierce and Paden, Spectrum Awareness Group, is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

Bill Jenkins, who conducts the annual Manny Memorial Poker Run in New Martinsville, is helping them learn how to organize such an event.

This Sunday, Aug. 3, they will host the run at the Wetzel County 4-H Grounds, rain or shine. The first bike will leave at 10:30 a.m. with the last bike in at 4:30 p.m. The cost to participate is $15 per hand.

The route for the ride will go from New Martinsville, south to St. Marys, out to Ellenboro, through West Union, to Pine Grove, and back to the 4-H grounds. All of the stops for poker cards will be at public places, such as parks, where water will be provided by Mensore Distributing.

“It’s just a nice, scenic, sober ride,” said Pierce.

While poker rides are traditionally run on motorcycles, Pierce said anyone can take part and enjoy the scenic drive. “We’re really hoping for at least 200 riders,” said Pierce.

After the ride there will be cash prizes for the top three hands, rodeo games with engraved wooden plaques for the winners, and a dip dinner with a pig roast at Gamble Shelter. Even people who did not take part in the ride are welcome to come to the dinner. All of the food will be donated, so the dinner is pure profit to help fight autism. “We should have plenty to feed anybody who wants to show up,” said Pierce.

There will also be door prizes, prize raffles, and a 50/50 drawing that the women assure will be large. “It’s going to be a big pot,” promised Pierce who said so many tickets have already been sold that they had to get more printed.

They are also selling t-shirts emblazoned with the event logo and information for $12 each. They were printed on high-quality Fruit of the Loom shirts at cost by Corp Source of Georgia. Pierce put a bid out on the internet for t-shirts and the owner of that company saw the bid and said she wanted to do it at cost because she has a friend whose child has autism.

DJ Rudy will be donating his time to give the event a soundtrack. Others who have donated include Bill Forbes, Wayside Furniture, Old Barn Landscaping, Home Comforts, Bayer Material Science, Cheddars at the Highlands, Carmike Cinemas in St. Clairsville, Valley Cinema 3, Ace Home Center, Barb and Brian Jones, Works Fitness World, Plaza Inn, as well as family and friends.

“Hopefully it becomes an annual event,” said Pierce.

Spectrum provides support to families raising special needs children. It is made up of children, parents, teachers, and anybody interested in special needs children.

In the past they have held a support group at the Wetzel County Center for Children and Families. They would be willing to start that up again if there is renewed interest.

“You don’t ever get a break from autism, ever,” said Pierce who said that the support group can give a much-needed respite where parents can talk with others who understand their challenges and frustrations.

“This is not a fund raising event for Spectrum at all,” reminds Pierce. All of the money raised, they are hoping for $10,000, will go to Autism Speaks which uses most of its proceeds to fund research.

Autism spectrum disorders are diagnosed in one in 150 children in the United States, affecting four times as many boys as girls.

The diagnosis of autism has increased tenfold in the last decade.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have called autism a national public health crisis whose cause and cure remain unknown.

Autism Speaks was founded in February 2005 by Suzanne and Bob Wright, the grandparents of a child with autism. Autism Speaks merged with the Autism Coalition for Research and Education (ACRE), the National Alliance for Autism Research (NAAR), and Cure Autism Now (CAN), bringing together the nation’s leading autism advocacy organizations. To learn more about Autism Speaks, please visit www.autismspeaks.org.

For more information on the poker ride, Spectrum, or a support group, or to volunteer to help with Sunday’s event, contact Pierce at 771-2595 or by e-mail at ladymuscles@verizon.net. You can also call Paden at 337-2688.