BMS students getting the blues for autism

Blytheville Middle School students are raising awareness for austism.

Today, April 2, is World Autism Day, and the month of April is National Autism Awareness Month. In recognition, members of the BMS National Junior Honors Society have taken on the project of raising money toward the cause. Their goal is to raise $500.

"One out of every 88 children is born autistic and one out of every 54 boys is born autistic as well," said BMS' LaDonna Hester, who is also the mother of an autistic child. "We are just trying to raise awareness to this issue."

The school is participating in the "Light it up Blue" campaign. It encourages residents and businesses to light their homes or place of business with the color blue. By Friday night, BMS hopes to have the school lit with the color blue, and it will stay that way for the rest of the month.

To make a donation, log on to www.lightitupblue.org. Sign on with the name jhester@blythevilleschools.net and use the password "love me."

afitzpatrick@blythevillecourier.com