March 15, 2023
Love on the run
Around Town
Optimist Club recognizes police officers from local area. Pg. 3
Healthy Living A guide for labor and delivery. Pg. 4
Flip for Features
Recipe, Movie & Sudoku. Pg. F-1 Submitted photo Liz Gundlach, of St. Charles, plans to run 44 miles in 11 hours to educate and raise money for autism awareness on April 2 at Wapelhorst Park. Gundlach’s two sons, Waylon and Rowan, are diagnosed with autism.
A St. Charles mother of two boys with autism will run 44 miles in 11 hours to help educate others about the growing number of children on the spectrum By Brett Auten Liz Gundlach doesn’t have to look far for inspiration. Gundlach, a St. Charles mother of two with autism, will run 44 miles in 11 hours to help educate others about the growing number of children on the spectrum. Wapelhorst Park, at 1875 Muegge Road in St. Charles, will be the location for 44 Miles for the 44th Child. She will run from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 2 at Wapelhorst Park, located at 1875 Muegge Road in St Charles. She is calling the event, “44 Miles for the 44th Child” in reference to the CDC report in 2021 that one in every 44 children is diagnosed with autism. Supporters on Facebook will be able to follow Gundlach’s progress on April 2, which is World Autism Awareness Day. Gundlach invited the public to come to Wapelhorst Park
and cheer her on, especially during her final lap. “If anyone wants to come by to jog, walk, or talk, the last mile should be the hardest,” she said. “Because that will be the mile for the one child in 44 diagnosed with autism. We are expecting (the last lap) to be around 5:45 p.m.” Gundlach said she would run the first 43 miles for children who do not have autism. She expects to be exhausted by the 44th mile. Gundlach’s son Rowan, who is six-yearsold, is higher functioning than his sevenyear-old brother Waylon, who is almost nonverbal. “I did not hear Waylon say ‘mom’ until he was five years old,” Gundlach said. “He only just recently said ‘I love you’ for the first time. When he was sick, he was able to tell me what was hurting him. It has been years of progress with small adjustments. We look at every-
thing in six-month strides.” After her sons’ diagnosis, Gundlach experienced a consuming depression and that running and exercise pulled her out of a downward spiral. Before she knew it, she had run a handful of 10Ks and marathons. It helped her realize that to care for her family, she had to become the best version of herself. Gundlach said she hopes her run will serve as an inspiration for parents who have children with autism or other disabilities. “Autism doesn’t have to be the center of the family or of the child’s life,” she said. “Through therapies and support, the dream is still there. It just looks a little different.” Both her sons attended United Services for Children, a nonprofit organization in St. Peters that provides therapy and early intervenSee ’LOVE’ page 2
Serving St. Louis, St. Charles and Lincoln Counties | FREE Online at mycnews.com | Vol. 25 No. 11 | 636-379-1775
CLASSIFIEDS AND HOME & GARDEN. Pg. F-2 /F-3 Moore On Life, Lifestyle & Crossword. Pg. F-4
Weather FRIDAY Cloudy 42/24 SATURDAY Partly Cloudy 39/23 SUNDAY Partly Cloudy 42/25
READ US ONLINE!