10th annual autism walk in West Palm Beach

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Autism affects one in 110 children and one in 70 boys in the United States, according to Autism Speaks, a nonprofit organization that works to create awareness, researches and treats autism through fundraising and advocacy.

It's a statistic that Wellington resident Denise Negron-Hernandez is all too familiar with as the mother of an autistic son, Alejandro, and co-chairwoman of the 2011 Walk Now for Autism Speaks.

"When I attended my first walk I realized I wasn't alone anymore," she said. "It gave me a chance to be my child's voice."

The West Palm Beach Autisim Walk took place Sunday at the West Palm Beach Commons at North Flagler Road and Clematis Street. About 3,000 to 4,000 people participate each year in the local walk, which is just one of the 80 walks that takes place in the United States, Negron-Hernandez said.

The events help raise money that is used toward research, according to Autism Speaks.