GoodLife Fitness ‘Lights It Up Blue’ for World Autism Awareness Day
Posted: April 5, 2017 in Chains
GoodLife Fitness
LONDON, ONTARIO – GoodLife Fitness illuminated its Home Office building in blue lights on Sunday, April 2, as part of the ‘Light it Up Blue’ campaign to mark World Autism Awareness Day.
After his daughter Kilee was diagnosed on the autism spectrum disorder at age two and a half, GoodLife Fitness Founder and CEO David ‘Patch’ Patchell-Evans made it his mission to support awareness and research to help Canadians living with autism spectrum disorder, which now affects one in every 68 Canadian children. Patch urges Canadian businesses and individuals to find their own ways to ‘light it up blue’ for autism awareness.
“My daughter, who is now 21, continues to teach me important lessons about gratitude, perseverance and joy,” says Patch, who was awarded the 2007 Canadian Medical Association Medal of Honour for his support of autism initiatives. “On April 2, the world celebrates how far we have come in autism education, research, early diagnosis, and awareness. A lot of hard work is yet to be done, but I am comforted knowing these kids and adults are in the hearts and minds of so many caring people around the globe.”
On Friday, March 31, GoodLife Fitness hosted a ‘Bluetique’ event for staff at their Home Office. Associates donated to autism research and treated themselves to a blue manicure or blue hair chalk to mark the occasion and generate conversations, awareness and support for families and individuals living with autism. Patch kicked off the events, and conversations, by painting the ‘light it up blue’ logo on his face.
To date, GoodLife’s CEO has donated $11.5 million to autism-related initiatives. Some of these initiatives include:
- Patch co-founded the Kilee Patchell-Evans Autism Research Group;
- In November of 2016, the Pacific Autism Family Network opened the GoodLife Fitness Family Autism Hub.
Patch highlights the challenges he had when his daughter was first diagnosed saying that, “help was virtually non-existent.”
“I applaud Autism Speaks Canada and the many organizations that are working hard to raise awareness for autism spectrum disorder and for the fantastic resources they have created to help educate the public,” says Patch.
“The ‘Light It Up Blue’ campaign celebrates World Autism Awareness Day by encouraging people to spread awareness and increased understanding about autism, leading us all to a more inclusive community. We rely on companies like GoodLife Fitness to lead the way by keeping autism top-of-mind and support families and individuals living with autism spectrum disorder,” said Jill Farber, Executive Director, Autism Speaks Canada. “Thank you, GoodLife, for your leadership,”
For Canadians looking to get involved, Autism Speaks Canada offers resources, like social media tools and fundraising materials, to make it easy to participate in the ‘Light it up Blue’ campaign. The Autism Speaks Canada website offers more information about support those living with autism spectrum disorder.
