Autism fun run a great success |11 April 2022

An autism fun run was held on Saturday at the Roche Caiman fitness trail in commemoration of World Autism Day celebrated on April 2 annually.

Present for the fun run was the Minister for Youth, Sports and Family, Marie-Celine Zialor; the vice-chairperson of the Seychelles Autism Association, Lynn Lavigne; the chief executive of the National Sports Council, Jean Larue; parents and children.

The aim of the fun run was to raise awareness of autism in Seychelles.

Ms Lavigne expressed how sports brings the community together and how sports aids children with autism in terms of communication.

She added that sports is a way for autistic individuals to relate with and vent their frustrations.

The vice-chair urged parents with autistic children to participate more in sports.

Minister Zialor said her ministry is always ready to collaborate and help out in events like these.

She added that during the week the ministry received a report from the Public Health Authority that there is a 30% increase in obesity among children in Seychelles.

The minister expressed that the fun run is the first step to reduce this figure as well as raise awareness of autism. A donation box was place at the Olympic house where anyone could make a donation.

The fun run started at 3pm and participants had to run two laps around the fitness trail which is equivalent to 5km.

The activity drew quite a large number of participants ranging from the elderly to toddlers and the majority of participants wore blue in light of autism awareness.

Running was not a must as it was encouraged to walk, jog or run at one’s own pace.

Jason Bonne, the sports club manager and programmes officer at the Vocational Training Centre (VTC) said that their pupils are also special needs and they felt it was a good cause to participate in the activity to support autism Seychelles.

He added that VTC works closely with Autism Seychelles and it was a way to emphasise their support. The club manager said the turnout was very positive and was especially happy to see many young people supporting the cause.

Johnise Belmont, whose grandchild is autistic, said she came to support the autism community though she could only manage to finish one lap.

She said her family was not present that day, however both she and her husband still came to support others.

Kenan Palmyre, a motivated eleven-year-old, said he does not have any family member that is autistic but he came to run to support the community.

Riat Sanders, a parent of a 20-year-old autistic young adult, said she is happy the event was re-launched and that she saw such a massive turnout which she was not expecting.

She emphasised that the autistic community still needs more support in regards to education and schooling.

She said she looks forward to the opening of the new autism centre.

She stressed that they don’t have a lot of support on the teachers’ side to help children with special needs. This is in reference to her own daughter’s experience of being bullied by a teacher in school. Her daughter did not participate in the event due to her phobia to the pandemic as she is nosophobic.

A group from the Seychelles Police Academy was also present for the event to give their support. Channel Herminie, an instructor at the Seychelles Police Academy, said there are many families with a member who is autistic and thus formed a team with the new recruits to offer their support.

Mr Herminie said this is the first time to his knowledge that the academy participates in the event.

He added that he expected more organisations to join the cause and encourages them to come forward and participate in the future to show their support as well.

Minister Zialor said that along with NSC, the department of youth and SNYC, they will continue to give their support.

She stressed that even though we celebrate autism in April, we must be conscious that it does not go away, it is there always and the community must continue to support the families throughout the year.

The accompanying photos show some highlights of the fun run.

Marla Simeon

Photos by Joena Meme