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WBCU 1460AM Radio

RACING TEAM WITH LOCAL TIES TO PROMOTE AUTISM AWARENESS

Tuesday, August 7

A car racing team based out of Union is helping to spread the word about autism by supporting Autism Speaks, a network started to raise awareness about the condition.

Team Aruba, an all-Aruban racing team that travels to the US and back to race in the NMRA Pro Stock category, is based stateside out of Union, and a chance meeting with a local parent of a child with autism led the team to provide support.

The racing team decided to provide assistance after receiving information from Gator and Betsy Hudson, two Union residents whose son, Kyle, suffers from autism and fragile x syndrome. Fragile x is a genetic disorder known to be the most common cause of inherited mental impairment, which can range from learning disabilities to more severe cognitive or intellectual disabilities. The disorder is also the most common known cause of autism.

Tom Lukan, of Team Aruba, said he asked, “What can we do to help?” after Gator Hudson came into the team’s shop with an awareness card his wife had designed. The information on the card was overwhelming, according to Lukon.

The team’s decision led to several phone calls and connection with Autism Speaks, and now the team’s cars and trailer are the first to sport a special logo identifying it as a proud supporter of the organization. Team Aruba is the first to display the special logo on racecars and trailers.

A Team Aruba car will be on display during an autism walk at Charlotte Motor Speedway on October 6, and an autism awareness walk team has been put together, as a joint venture between Team Aruba and the Union County Tourism Commission; Union's walk team is being organized by the Hudsons. More than 100 people have already signed up to be a part of Union's team. Proceeds raised from the walk go toward researching a cure for autism.

For more information on the walk, or autism in general, e-mail Gator and Betsy Hudson at betsygatorh@yahoo.com. The Hudsons also have a website, www.autisticourchunkymonkey.blogspot.com.