Inaugural Annapolis Autism Fundraiser Raises $30,000 and Offers Hope and Support for Local C...( ANNAPOLIS Md. Nov. 8 -- The Bowe...),Health

ANNAPOLIS, Md., Nov. 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Bowen Foundation's inaugural 'Cruise to Cure Autism' held tonight in Annapolis, raised $30,000 and is the first of the foundation's events planned to raise awareness and support for Maryland families dealing with a child diagnosed with autism. The foundation, which was founded by Annapolis resident Bryan Levy whose five year old son Bowen was diagnosed with autism three years ago, is dedicated to increasing education opportunities, family initiatives and aggressively supporting groups engaged in research and treatment of the disease.

"Autism is one of the fastest growing diagnoses we see in pediatric medicine and the support, education and resources available for families is not where it should be," said Dr. Charles Parmele, an Annapolis Pediatrician and member of the Bowen Foundation's board of directors. "The money and awareness we raise will go toward helping families effectively combat this disease and will support groups like Autism Speaks, the Kennedy Krieger Institute and the National Institutes of Health who are aggressively seeking to understand and cure autism."

The 'Cruise for a Cure' featured live music and refreshments and offered several open discussions on effective ways for families and individuals to combat the growing disease. Autism currently is diagnosed in 1 of every 150 children born in the U.S., making it more common than pediatric cancer, diabetes and AIDS combined. It occurs in all racial, ethnic and social groups and is four times more likely to strike boys than girls. Autism impairs a person's ability to communicate and relate to others.

"Helping other families face the same reality mine did a few years ago and searching for a cure and understanding of the disease is what we are really trying to do," said Bryan Levy, founder of the Bowen Foundation. "Facing the autism spectrum diagnosis is difficult enough for any parent and we want to make sure that autism-a
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