Run for Autism 2026: RM20,000 Raised for The Hope Project

Kuala Lumpur, 23 April 2026 – Early Autism Project Malaysia successfully raised approximately RM20,000 through Run for Autism 2026, which brought together nearly 500 registered participants in support of autism awareness and services nationwide.

Proceeds from the initiative will go to Early Autism Project’s non-profit arm, The Hope Project, to support the development of the free Autism At Home Parent and Teacher App. The app aims to provide accessible tools, resources, and guidance to support thousands of families.

Held in conjunction with Early Autism Project’s 20th anniversary and World Autism Awareness Month, the two-week initiative featured a virtual 20km run from 2–18 April, culminating in an autism-friendly carnival and final lap fun run at Perdana Botanical Gardens on 18 April.

A total of 382 participants registered for the 20km virtual run, with over 100 additional participants joining the final lap, bringing total registrations to nearly 500. The Run for Autism Carnival on 18 April drew more than 400 attendees, including families, performers, partners, media, and members of the public, reflecting strong community support for autism awareness and inclusion.

Director of Early Autism Project, Dr Jochebed Isaacs, said:

“Run for Autism 2026 was created to raise awareness about autism, early identification, and early intervention, while also generating funds to expand access to services. We are encouraged by the strong community support, which brings us one step closer to making autism resources more accessible to families across Malaysia.”

The carnival featured inclusive performances and autism-friendly booths by neurodivergent individuals and organisations, including Zimi J, Autism Cafe Project, NASOM, IDEAS, ARISMA, Stand Pie Me, and others. The event also welcomed support from partners such as Nestlé Malaysia, F&N, ZUS Coffee, PurpleBox, NOZIG, DailyMuscle LightHouse Gym, and additional community collaborators. Federal Territories Minister Hannah Yeoh also lent her support to the event.

Participants were led in a warm-up session by Noel and Kimbeley Yap-Chelliah, coaches from DailyMuscle Lighthouse Gym. The final lap fun run was flagged off by Datuk Stuart Ramalingam, Chairman of Majlis Sukan Wilayah Persekutuan, alongside autism advocates Dr Say Shazril and Dr Azura Abas.

Since its establishment in 2006, Early Autism Project has transformed the lives of more than 1,500 individuals with autism from over 40 countries and collaborated with over 70 schools and universities. The Hope Project has impacted over 1,600 children through subsidised services and scholarships, more than 4,000 subscribers through its online resource portal, and over 1 million individuals through autism awareness campaigns both online and offline.

Run for Autism 2026 marks an important milestone in strengthening community awareness and mobilising support to empower neurodiverse individuals and their families across Malaysia.

For more information about Early Autism Project, please visit www.autismmalaysia.com.