Local Woman Bikes 100 Miles from New York to Westhampton to Raise Funds for Autism

WATER MILL, NY - A mother will walk through fire for her child.

Or bike more than 100 miles.

Just ask Water Mill resident Kim Covell, who, along with a team, is participating Friday in the "Bike to the Beach" event, which kicks off in Battery Park City and ends up in Westhampton.

Bike to the Beach is a non-profit group that organizes 100-mile cycling events from major cities to the beach, to raise funds and awareness for autism.

For years, Covell, whose son Dylan has autism, said he's known about the organization because her non-profit, Flying Point Foundation for Autism, has received funding from the event's proceeds.

But it wasn't until this year that she signed up, a decision that coincided with her decision to get back in shape at 50.

"I thought, 'Why not?' I am basically an athletic type so I knew, no matter what, I could probably grunt my way through 100 miles. I have a friend who I run with and I told her I was going to do it — she joined my team, Team Flying Point. And so it started. I didn’t even have a bike! I bought one and Julie and I started to train on weekends."

Next, Covell posted on the Flying Point Foundation for Autism Facebook page that she had a team and that she'd love to have additional participants sign on.

On Friday, five team members, including one from New Jersey that she "met" on Facebook on a page for a very specific type of autism; her adult brother has the same diagnosis as Covell's son, a rare form of autism called Childhood Disintegrative Disorder.

As the race kicks off, Covell's team has raised approximately $10,000; personally, she's raised almost $5,000.

"Most of the money comes back to the Flying Point Foundation for Autism — the rest covers ride costs," she said. "I am a firm believer in keep the dollars local in fundraising. "

Covell said working to raise funding for autism is a deeply personal mission. "It’s a part of my life and will be until the day I die. It’s about taking this huge part of my life and doing something positive with it — that’s what inspired me to start the Flying Point Foundation for Autism. It’s a fairly safe bet that every one knows someone impacted by autism. It’s about more than awareness; I think we are way beyond that. It’s about understanding and acceptance. Really understanding. Thinking about the impact that autism has on an individual and a family."

As a spectrum disorder, meaning that those with autism are impacted in a "jumble" of ways — her husband calls them “snowflakes” because no two are exactly alike — Covell says, "It can be difficult to make sense of the fact that the young man headed off to college has the same disorder as the young man who requires 24-7 supervision and help tying his shoes."

Friday's event, Covell said, "is very personal for me. First because I have a son with autism. On another level, it’s about raising money for a nonprofit I founded and how much we do with so little. Just one day at our summer camp and you’d understand. And we give scholarships, teacher grants and more."

Covell is thrilled to have a great team onboard and the support and encouragement of the B2B organization.

Reflecting upon autism, Covell said, "I think that they will find that there are many autisms, like there are so many forms of cancer. Honestly, I don’t think there will be a breakthrough in my lifetime that will help my son. So, I suppose my deepest wish right now is to find therapies, drug or otherwise, and support people that will allow my son to have a fulfilling and happy life."

Teammate Julie Cummings-Bosch said she and Covell have been running together for years, sometimes training. "Most of the time it just keeps us sane," she said. "On these runs I get to hear a glimpse of her life with a child with autism. I’ve watched her through the years advocate for her Dylan, and am in total awe of everything she does for the local autism community. So when she asked me to do this race, it was hard to say no to one of the hardest working mothers I know."

Cummings-Bosch said the ride sybolizes taking a stand with the kids and their families. "These services provided don’t aways fund themselves. I am a pretty big believer in 'give where you live'."

The event is also the first go-round for Cummings-Bosch. "I more comfortable with both feet on the ground."

Her deepest wish regarding autism? "Find the cause, find the cure," she said.