Music blared and spectators cheered during Island Autism’s annual 5K race on Saturday morning. The race, which was a joint effort with the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism and was sponsored by Vineyard Wealth Group, saw record-breaking enrollment this year.
Kicking off at the West Tisbury School, more than 250 runners sprinted, jogged, and walked the course before finishing at the school. The race’s proceeds go to Island Autism, a nonprofit that provides life skills, programming, job training, and therapies for individuals with autism living on Martha’s Vineyard.
Kate Devane, executive director for Island Autism, estimated that participation in this year’s race was three times the amount of last year’s enrollment.
Island Autism is currently raising money as part of its multi-phase capital campaign. Phase One, which included purchasing 7.5 acres and constructing facilities at 515 Lamberts Cove Road, is complete, but some funding for phase two, construction of two 4-bedroom houses, and all funds for phase three, three additional housing units and an endowment for programming and operations, are still needed. Though more funds are necessary to achieve the center’s long-term goals, Devane expressed her satisfaction about the race’s turnout. There isn’t an official dollar amount raised from the race yet.
“We’ve got a long way to go, and we’re halfway through our capital campaign, but it’s fantastic,” she said.
This year’s race marks the first time that the organization collaborated with the former professional quarterback’s foundation. After receiving the 2026 Dougie Award for autism advocacy during the Boston Marathon, Casey O’Connor, race director, said that a foundation official contacted him about involvement with Island Autism’s race.
“It’s gonna really help get [Island Autism’s] name out there, and the time is now for them to raise money,” O’Connor said.
Joe Katusich, Flutie Foundation development manager, who mainly works for their fundraising race branch, Flutie 5K for Autism, explained the reasoning behind the foundation’s partnership with Island Autism.
“We have an organization, like Island Autism, [that] already has a great market for a race, and they’re looking to us to find a way to raise a little bit more money throughout the year,” Katusich said. “A 5K is a great way for us to empower them to do that.”
Crossing the finish line first, Sam Fetters, 21, ran the course with a time of 16:12.5. Fetters, who works at Island Autism, expressed his joy about the race’s turnout.
“As someone who’s part of the autistic community, there are few things more meaningful and more fulfilling I could be doing on a weekend like this,” Fetters said. “I’m just so happy to see so many people in the community coming out to support such a good cause.”
Grant Joiner, Vineyard Wealth Group founder, said that he was inspired to sponsor and participate in this year’s race to support his six year-old son with autism and because of his passion for running.
“It’s sort of a cross section of a lot of things that are important,” Joiner said.
Michael Palmer, adaptive runner and Flutie Foundation board member, said that the race’s sense of community encourages him to be more open about his autism.
“I’m still at that point where I’m afraid to tell people I have autism, which shouldn’t be the case now,” Palmer said. “But communities like this make it easier to tell people that I have autism. It really means a lot that a lot of people came out for a good cause and just to show our inclusiveness.”
At races, Palmer hopes to provide representation for the autistic community.
“It means more being at these events to show what it’s like to have autism because people think of autism, and it’s always negative for some reason,” Palmer said. “That’s just not the case. We can do everything that others can do, just in a different way.”
