By Betty Gandee

“I sat and cried.  All the dreams I had for my son seemed to be gone.”

Regina Postasnik explains how she felt when they got the diagnosis that their oldest son Owen was autistic. She says that she thought about all the things he would miss out on. Things like having a girlfriend/wife, a driver’s license, going to college, or having a job. “It was a very difficult time until I realized those were my dreams for him, not his.” She says they now focus on making new dreams. Reaching your dreams does not mean that you have the “perfect American life” of a car, a house and 2.5 children.  Success is not measured in what you have it is measured in happiness, and happy is one thing that Owen surely is.  You can’t meet this little guy and not fall in love with him.  You talk to him once and you’re instant friends and he is inviting you to dinner.

Owen was progressing wonderfully until it stopped at the age of 18 months.  Regina and husband Greg noticed something may not be right, but with Owen being their first child they really had nothing to compare his development to.  They worked with a speech and occupational therapist along with Birth to Three before they had someone come in and evaluate Owen at home for autism.  Owen wouldn’t show fear, make eye contact, or interact with other children.  These were a few of the signs that they noticed and decided to enroll him in preschool at the age of three. “Mrs. Misty Nichols was put on this earth to teach my child, she will never know how much she helped Owen.” Owen is now a first grader in Mrs. Marlene Phillips class and is doing wonderfully.  He has a best friend, he can read and write and is a ray of sunshine.

With the Owen and friend’s autism race coming up April 28, Regina says they started to race to raise awareness about Clay County accepting our special needs students and to show them that we care.  This race started in 2016 and raised over $1,300 in 2017, then that amount jumped to above $2,400. The funds from these races are used to purchase things such as weighted blankets, stress relievers, pencil grips, etc.  The race starts at 10 a.m. with registration at 9 a.m. at Clay County High School. This year’s funds will help high school graduates purchase items needed for college.

This year the Owen and Friends Autism Race will take place on April 28, 2018.

The race will start at the high school and the participants will travel from the high school to the Clay County Courthouse and back. Registration will start at 9 a.m. and the race will begin at 10 a.m. It’ll be a little different this year. Walkers will start at 10. Runners will set off at 10:20.

There will be raffles there for you try to win. The tickets will be $1 for 1 ticket for $5 for 6 tickets. All money raised will go to the Owen and Friends: Race to Educate fund. You do not have to be present to win a raffle. The cost is again $20 and you will receive a t-shirt with your admission fees. T-shirts are available for $10 if you do not wish to participate in the race. There will be little gifts given out to the children as well.

Improvements are being made to the race this year and it’ll be better than ever. 2016 we raised over $1,500 dollars, 2017 we raised $2,200. I want to blow that amount out of the water!

Categories:

Walkers: all ages

Runner 13-25

Runner 25-45

Runner 46+

Please turn in your registration fees and forms before April 14. I can email you more info if needed. You can buy t-shirts separate for just $10. If you’d like to donate wed love the support.

Mail fees or donations to:

• Regina Potasnik, 239 Ivy Brook Road, Clay, WV 25043
• Drop them off at Clay County bank under Regina Potasnik Autism Race Fund
• Or message me for other arrangements

The race form will be released soon, as well as t-shirt designs for the race.