It hopes funding from the 2010 event will help it expand services to 3000 Queensland families. Autism Queensland marketing and fundraising manager Paula Davidson said it hoped to extend services to regional centres such as Cairns and Rockhampton.

“We have extreme waiting lists in those regional areas,” she said.
Funding will be used to support the Kidstart Outreach Early Intervention Programs, which help autistic children aged six years and under.

The programs help parents to understand autism, develop strategies for their children, provide access to therapists and guidance. They focus on communication, behavioural issues and daily skills.

Research shows early intervention can help autistic children develop skills to help them succeed at school.

Autism, a neuro-biological condition, affects one in every 160 children in Australia. Children with autism have problems communicating, socialising, processing information and adapting to changes in their environment.

“We operate at a deficit and for us to be able to raise our profile and also funds is just phenomenal,” Ms Davidson said.

This year’s Sunday Mail Suncorp Bridge to Brisbane raised $301,057 for the Heart Foundation.

It also raised $23,400 for other charities. Individual entrants raised a further $241,626. The total raised was $566,083 and 45,281 people took part in the run, a 23 per cent rise on 2008.

Next year’s Sunday Mail Suncorp Bridge to Brisbane will be on August 29.

Save the date and hope to see you there.

Diamantina Institute researcher Dr Louise Hutley and Professor Kerry Atkinson, of the Mater Medical Research Institute, will receive grants from the proceeds of the August 30 fun run which attracted a record 45,265 entrants.

More than $2.4 million has been raised for charities over the past 12 years.

The Heart Foundation was the major beneficiary of this year’s race, with the total amount raised to be announced within weeks.

Lauren Moran, of Coopers Plains in Brisbane’s south, completed the 10km leg, raising $5682 to make her the biggest single fundraiser. She was 21 when her father had a fatal heart attack just three days after his 46th birthday.

Two research projects have been chosen for funding grants from this year’s fun run.

Dr Hutley’s work could result in an anti-obesity drug being released within five years, potentially reducing the risk of heart attack, given the link between obesity and cardiovascular disease. It is hoped a drug that targets a particular fat tissue could be developed.

Prof Atkinson will receive a grant to further his research into helping heart attack victims recover.

Nominations for potential beneficiaries of next year’s Bridge to Brisbane close on November 11.