York Regional Police Const. Adam McEachern is preparing for a tough 12-hour workout this weekend for his third annual Autism Heroes challenge.
He will be completing cycles of running, pushups, jumping jacks and lunges from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Newmarket Soccer Club on Saturday, April 15.
He started the challenge in 2021, inspired by his now nine-year-old son, Caleb, who was diagnosed on the autism spectrum at age four.
One day, McEachern was running on the treadmill and talking with Caleb, who had a fascination with Terry Fox and was asking him if it was hard to run across Canada.
"I said, 'Yeah, it was incredibly hard, right? Like I mean, he was doing what most people wouldn't think to do on two good legs, where he was doing it on one. But the reason he was doing it is because Terry understood that to do hard things meant that other people would would benefit from that and it was bigger than themselves,'" he said. "And so, Caleb, he says, 'Well, Terry Fox is a hero'... then he turned around he goes, 'Just like you dad, you're a hero.' So that left a lasting impression on me."
That got the gears turning and gave him the idea to do something bigger and raise awareness about autism spectrum disorder and the things that people deal with everyday.
"If you've met one autistic person, you've met one autistic person and everybody has their own challenges, hurdles that they have to get through," he said.
The challenge also raises money for Kerry's Place, which McEachern's family has benefited from directly, and this year it will also support Special Olympics Ontario, which York Regional Police has a long history of supporting.
McEachern said he has been training non-stop since the first challenge three years ago and is feeling ready to take on the workout this year that will involve one-hour cycles of the following: 1.66 kilometre walk/run; 166 pushups; 166 jumping jacks; and 166 walking lunges.
This number is significant because one in 66 children in Canada is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, according to Statistics Canada data from 2018.
McEachern will be participating for the entire 12 hours, but members of the community can register to take part in as many cycles as they want.
He said it has been humbling to see it grow over the years and to see the support from the community.
"I'm not asking anybody to come out and be some sort of top-tier athlete or anything like that. Just come out, just show up. Show your support," he said.
You can register online for $50, which includes a t-shirt or if you aren't able to participate but still want to contribute, you can donate, buy a t-shirt for $30 or a hat for $25.
Even if you are not participating, McEachern encourages community members to come out and cheer along.
"We're trying to build something that's substantial for the people of the neurodiversity community," he said.
