Photos from runs 2010-2018 Click on photo thumbnails to see a larger image.
Photos from 2019 - present. Clickon photo thumbnails to see a larger image.
Pushing
Past
Autism
Click on any photo thumbnail to see a larger image.
NEW events for 2023! Come run with Benny-the-Jet or consider making a donation to the charities! (Donate directly to the charities on their webpages.)
Check back often for updates. We usually run more than a dozen each year, including the runs in the past event list listed on this web page. If you know of some upcoming runs for good charitable causes, please send information and links so that we might consider participating in and supporting them. Thanks.
Contact email:
ropejumper@icloud.com
Please share your comments and questions with me. Thanks.
Larry Cruz
How did Pushing Past Autism start? Our son, Benjamin, was diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum and within a few years we had experienced many challenges in our personal lives and on our resources. I felt the need to help others who have to deal with the same situation. There were enough running and swimming charity events already, so I searched for an idea that would reach a wider group of participants and donors. I figured everyone can do pushups. So, on June 7, 2008, I rented the arena at Western Connecticut State University and held a pushup contest called "Pushing Past Autism" to raise money for The Dan Marino Foundation http://www.danmarinofoundation.org/portal/, The Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism http://www.flutiefoundation.org/, and the Autism Society of Connecticut. The donations we raised were far beyond our expectations thanks to the generosity of many people.
www.pushingpastautism.org
from Weston, CT
Running for Good Causes Since 2010 with Ben.
My son, Benjamin Cruz, who is on the autism spectrum, supports various charitable causes by participating in their charity running events and bringing awareness to them. Running has helped Ben's confidence and gives us a way to help others. Please consider supporting these charities, running with us, and helping us spread some love.
If you would like to add a weblink to a charity event or charity website please send a message with your suggestion. My website is averaging several hundred visits per month.
Links and information related to the AUTISM SPECTRUM
Autism Speaks. https://www.autismspeaks.org/ Autism Speaks is the world's leading autism science and advocacy organization, dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism; increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders; and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families.
The Lurie Center for Autism at Massachusetts General Hospital. http://www.massgeneral.org/children/services/treatmentprograms.aspx?id=1614
The Lurie Center for Autism is an integrated and multidisciplinary clinical, research, training and advocacy program dedicated to treating individuals with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disorders.
April 30, 2023 9/11 Memorial & Museum 5K Run/Walk
New York, NY
https://runwalk.911memorial.org/BenjaminLawrenceCruz
May 14, 2023 Modeh-Ani RUN for gratitude presented by Chai Lifeline Mutual and Modeh-Ani Project
Pier 84 Hudson River Park, New York, NY
https://www.modehani.org/run
May 21, 2023 21st Annual NYPD Memorial 5k Run
New York, NY
https://www.nypdmemorialrun.com/
May 21, 2023 Blue and Yellow Ukraine Inc. 5K Run for Ukraine
Pear Tree Point Beach, Darien, CT
https://runsignup.com/Race/CT/Darien/RaceforUkraine
May 21 - June 24 Beit Halochem International 5K Run
virtual run
https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/ValleyStream/5Towns5KRun
May 29, 2023 YIJE Run/Walk (Young Israel Jamaica Estates)
Jamaica Estates, Queens, NY
https://events.elitefeats.com/23yije#info
June 24, 2023 Frontrunners NYC LGBT PRIDE RUN®
Central Park, New York, NY
https://frnypriderun.org
June 25, 2023 Tunnel to Towers Foundation- Bethel CT- 5K run
Bethel, CT
https://runsignup.com/Race/CT/Bethel/2022TunneltoTowers5KRunWalkBethelCT
August 20, 2023 Cheryl Diamond NYC
5K Cancer Schlep Run
Central Park, New York, NY
https://events.elitefeats.com/23schlep#info
SOME OF OUR PAST RUNS.
9/11 Memorial 5K
Sunday, April 24, 2022, New York, NY
https://runwalk.911memorial.org
Circle of Care 5K
Sunday, May 1, 2022, Wilton, CT
https://runsignup.com/Race/CT/Wilton/CircleofCare5K
(tentative) St. Vincent's Spring Sprint 5K for Mental Health
Saturday, May 7, 2022
https://www.saintjosephs.org/about-us/event/st.-vincent's-spring-sprint
Modeh-Ani 5K Run
Sunday, May 8, 2022, New York, NY
https://www.modehani.org/run
Beit Halochem International 5K Run
Sunday May 15 - Sunday May 29, VIRTUAL RUN
https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/ValleyStream/5Towns5KRun
Young Israel Jamaica Estates L'Chaim 5K Run
Sunday, May 29, 2022, Jamaica Estates, Queens, NY
https://events.elitefeats.com/22lchaim5k#info
Front Runners New York LGBT Pride Run 4M
Saturday, June 25, 2022, Central Park, New York, NY
https://frnypriderun.org
National Multiple Sclerosis Society MS Climb to the Top
Sunday, June 26, 2022, Citi Field, New York, NY
https://mssociety.donordrive.com/team/BennytheJetandDad
America Friends of Rabin Medical Center Cheryl Diamond NYC 5K Cancer Schlep
Sunday, August 21, 2022, Central Park, New York, NY
https://5kschlep.com
Komen Greater New York City Race for the Cure
race date estimated September 10, 2022, Central Park, New York, NY
https://www.raceentry.com/komen-greater-new-york-city-race-for-the-cure/race-information
May 7-9, Virtual Run
The Michael J. Fox Foundation's
Virtual 5K/10K/Half Marathon
MJFF for Parkinson's Disease Researchhttp://foxtrot.michaeljfox.org/spring/BennyTheJet
August 29, Central Park, Manhattan NYC
NYC Cheryl Diamond 5K Cancer Schlep
American Friends of Rabin Cancer Center
https://events.elitefeats.com/schlep21
September 11-19 Justice for Kaysera 5K - virtual
Working for justice for murdered and missing indigenous women.
https://events.elitefeats.com/kaysera21#info
September 12, 2021- Sunday - New York, NY
Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Race For the Cure
http://www.info-komen.org/site/TR?fr_id=8721&pg=team&team_id=448184
September 12, 2021 Live BEIT HALOCHEM INTERNATIONAL 5K RUN
http://www.5towns5k.org/
April 4, 2020 - Saturday - New York City
Fountain House One-in-Four 5K
https://give.fountainhouse.org/event/fountain-house-one-in-four-5k/e267122
April 26, 2020 - Sunday - New York City
9/11 Memorial & Museum 5K
https://911memorial.org/support/get-involved/5k-runwalk-community-day
March 3, 2019 - Sunday- New York, NY
CLIMB TO THE TOP 2018 - stair run up to the roof of Rockefeller Center
http://main.nationalmssociety.org/goto/Benny-the-Jet
April 6, 2019 - Saturday - New York, NY
Fountain House One-in-Four 5K
https://give.fountainhouse.org/event/fountain-house-one-in-four-5k/e220185
April 28, 2019 - Sunday - New York, NY
9/11 Memorial 5K
https://www.911memorial.org/5k-runwalk-community-day
Two races in one morning!
May 5, 2019 - Sunday - Wilton, CT
Circle of Care 5K
https://thecircleofcare.org/events/5k.html
May 5, 2019- Sunday
Weston, CT Star Inc. 5K
https://runsignup.com/Race/CT/Westport/STARs12thannualWalkRunandRoll
May 19, 2019 - Sunday- 10:13 am - New York, NY
NYPD Memorial 5K Run
http://nypdmemorialrun.com/
May 26, 2019 - Sunday - Queens, NY
L'Chaim 5K Run for Israel
https://www.yije.org/about-lchaim-5k-runwalk.html
June 2, 2019 - Sunday - New York, NY
Italy Run by Nutella Café (5 miles) in support of Friends of San Patrignano, celebrating Festa della Repubblica in Central Park
https://www.nyrr.org/races/italyrunbynutellacafe5m
June 29, 2019 - Saturday - New York, NY
Front Runners New York LGBT Pride Run (5 miles)
https://frnypriderun.org/
August 8, 2019 - Thursday- New York, NY
NY Fox Trot 5K for Parkinson's Research- Michael J. Fox Foundation
https://foxtrot.michaeljfox.org/newyork/Team/View/98974/Benny-the-Jet-and-Dad
September 8, 2019 - New York, NY
Susan G. Komen - Race for the Cure 5K
https://impact.komennyc.org/rftc/team/benny-the-jet-and-dad
September 15, 2019 - Sunday - New York NY
Autism Speaks Walk - NYC
We're on the team The Brooklyn J Walkers !
http://act.autismspeaks.org/site/TR/Walk/NewYorkMetro?team_id=93456&pg=team&fr_id=4411
October 27, 2019 - Sunday - New York City
7th Annual Birch Family Services 5K Run
https://birchfamilyservices.org/run-walk-celebrate-at-birch-5k/
March 4, 2018 - Sunday- New York, NY
CLIMB TO THE TOP 2018 - stair run up to the roof of Rockefeller Center http://main.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR/Special/NYNGeneralEvents?team_id=536788&pg=team&fr_id=29191
April 7, 2018 - 10:30 am - Saturday - New York, NY
Fountain House One-In-Four 5K
http://www.fountainhouse.org/events/fountain-house-one-four-5k-2018
April 22, 2018 - 8 am - Sunday - New York, NY
9/11 Memorial 5K
https://www.911memorial.org/5k-runwalk-community-day
May 5, 2018 - 9 am - Saturday - Westport, CT
Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure 5K
https://komennewengland.org/fairfield-county-race-for-the-cure/
May 6, 2018 - 10 am - Sunday - Westport, CT
Star Inc. 5K Run
http://www.starct.org/
May 20, 2018 - 10:13 am - Sunday - New York, NY
17th Annual NYPD Memorial 5K Run
http://www.nypdrunningclub.com/event-818
May 27, 2018 - Sunday - Jamaica Estates, Queens, New York
L'Chaim 5K Run for Israel
https://www.yije.org/
June 23, 2018 - 8 am - Saturday - New York, NY Central Park
Front Runners New York LGBT Pride Run (5 Mile)
http://www.nyrr.org/races-and-events/2018/front-runners-new-york-lgbt-pride-run-5m
August 5, 2018 - 8:30 am - Sunday - New York, NY
Sgt. Keith A. Ferguson 5K Run/Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge
https://nycruns.com/races/?race=sgt-ferguson-5k
August 9, 2018 - 7:00 pm - Thursday - New York NY
NYC Fox Trot for Parkinson's Research - Michael J. Fox Foundation
https://foxtrot.michaeljfox.org/newyork/Static/Event-Info
September 9, 2018 - Sunday - Central Park, New York, NY
Komen Greater NYC Race for the Cure
http://www.komennyc.org/site/TR/Race/RFTC?px=2476568&pg=personal&fr_id=1751
October 14, 2018 - Sunday- Fairfield, CT
CancerCare 5K for Hope
https://community.cancercare.org/BenjaminCruz
November 4, 2018 - Sunday - Ridgefield, CT
Cops & Robbers 5K for the Women's Center of Greater Danbury
https://runsignup.com/Race/CT/Ridgefield/RPDCopsRobbers5k
November 10, 2018 - Saturday - New York, NY
Birch Family Services for Autism and Other Disabilities - 5K
https://give.birchfamilyservices.org/Benny-the-Jet-and-Dad
Links and Information, Other Charities, Events and generous Friends who we support.
Please check out their websites.
ALS Finding a Cure® Foundation
The ALS Finding a Cure® Foundation's team of researchers is led by the Chief of the Neurology Department at Mass General. ALS Finding a Cure® is a program of the Leandro P. Rizzuto Foundation. It's sole mission is to fund ALS research to find a cure. 100% of donations go directly to funding ALS research.
Fountain House
http://www.fountainhouse.org/
Fountain House successfully addresses the devastating impact of serious mental illness. We were founded in New York City in 1948 with the belief that people living with mental illness can be active participants in their own and each other’s recovery. Each year, over 1,600 members come to Fountain House to contribute their talents, learn new skills, access opportunities and forge new friendships.
The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society
http://www.nationalmssociety.org/
The mission at Mikey’s Way Foundation is to enrich the lives of children suffering from cancer and other life threatening illnesses.
The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, founded by Paul Newman.
Details and registration information : http://getinvolved.holeinthewallgang.org/
The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp is dedicated to providing “a different kind of healing” to seriously ill children and their families, free of charge.
American Parkinson Disease Association - Connecticut Chapter
National Ovarian Cancer Coalition
http://www.ovarian.org/index.php
WOLF + FRIENDS
http://www.wolfandfriends.com/ A Modern Shopping + Lifestyle Platform Designed To Support Your Child's Unique Developmental Needs.