Allied Employees Raise $3,835 for Autism Speaks

On Saturday, April 28^th, a group of Allied employees from our Wisconsin location participated in the Walk Now for Autism Speaks event in Milwaukee.

Rebecca Mertens, Debby Lupo, Ian Wappenschmidt, and Mollie Konieczny were members of Team Christopher, named for Mertens’ oldest son who has been diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome, a form of autism.

For Mertens, her personal experience with Autism Speaks made the walk that much more meaningful. She explained, “I am very passionate about this cause…without Autism Speaks, I would be very lost as a parent.  They have so many resources online and are helping support research for a cure.”

The team’s enthusiasm for the cause led to a lot of fundraising efforts, and ultimately, Rebecca Mertens raised enough to make her the 2^nd largest individual fundraiser for the whole Milwaukee event. Team Christopher raised a total of $3, 835 for the cause, including a company donation from Allied Wire & Cable’s Charity Week back in December, and numerous pledges from other members of the Allied family throughout the country.

The day of the event was cold and rainy, but that didn’t affect the turn-out, or the atmosphere around the walk. When Konieczny was asked about her first experience with Walk Now, she said, “It was a little wet and cold but everyone was in good spirits, making the weather unnoticeable.  It was really amazing to see all of the people that were there to walk showing their support for someone they care for.”

One of the most special things about Walk Now for Autism Speaks is that it is more than just a walk; it is an all-day family event. Mertens’ children enjoyed meeting local team mascots, and exploring the resource fair where there were fun giveaways and activities for all ages.

Allied couldn’t be happier that everyone had such a great time at the event supporting such a great cause. Rebecca, Debby, Mollie, and Ian, we’re so proud of you!