BOSTON -- The Walk Now For Autism Greater Boston event will be held on Sunday, Oct. 18, at Suffolk Downs Racetrack in East Boston. NewsCenter 5’s Randy Price will host the event.

All event proceeds support Autism Speaks, the nation’s largest autism advocacy organization. Its mission is to increase awareness about the growing autism epidemic and raise funds for research, family services and advocacy in local communities and nationwide.

“We are excited to build on the success of last year’s Walk Now for Autism event and expand the ranks of both walkers and donors,” said an event representative.

Autism is a complex brain disorder that inhibits a person's ability to communicate and develop social relationships, and is often accompanied by extreme behavioral challenges. 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 past decade. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have called autism a national public health crisis whose cause and cure remain unknown.

Walk Now for Autism is a unique fundraising event that creates a safe and fun day for families that are impacted by autism. The day includes free food, a walk around the scenic 1.25-mile track, live entertainment and a Community Resource fair with educational sources, therapists, schools, recreational organizations, and creative child-friendly activities. It will be a true “one-stop-shop” for families affected by autism.

The Walk Now for Autism events are the signature fundraising events for Autism Speaks, raising more than $29 million last year, alone, to support autism research. This year, over 80 Walk Now events will take place across the United States, as well as Canada and the United Kingdom. Visit walknowforautismspeaks.org for more information about the walk.

Last year’s Greater Boston Walk Now for Autism event attracted 20,000 walkers and raised more than $1.3 million for autism research. For more information about the 2009 Greater Boston Walk Now for Autism, visit walknowforautism.org/greaterboston.