The weather will be crummy this weekend, but the extended forecast for White Plains, New York on Saturday, October 8 calls for mostly sunny skies and a pleasant high temperature of 69 degrees.

That’s good news for participants and supporters of Wall Street Rides for Autism Research, which holds its annual event that day to benefit the Autism Science Foundation.

Bryan Harkins, co-founder of Wall Street Rides FAR, notes that there’s still time to sign up for the event, which will have rides for multiple levels of biking proficiency: 4 miles, 20 miles, 30 miles, and 62 miles.

Harkins sees hope for the future of autism research amid the exponential increase in the number of individuals diagnosed with this disorder. The second-annual Wall Street Rides FAR, which will take place 25 miles from New York City in Westchester County, is not your typical fundraiser. When else will you get the chance to see some of Wall Street’s finest in biking spandex rather than suits? “You’re going to have a lot of fun,” said Harkins, whose day job is head of U.S. markets at Bats Global Markets, a leading exchange operator. “It’s going to be a fitness challenge but its also going to be a lot of networking.”

Regarding the event’s objectives, Bryan said, “First and foremost, to raise awareness for a growing societal concern: the unprecedented rise of autism. Right now the latest research shows that 1 out of every 68 kids in the U.S. are now diagnosed somewhere on the spectrum, and it has been getting worse. It’s our belief that hopes for autism and finding a cause really lies in scientific research.”

This bike ride will bring people together in a fun and meaningful way. “I want to raise awareness at this event and I want people to have fun so they come back every year,” Harkins said. All proceeds will go to the Autism Science Foundation, a nonprofit that provides funding and various services to scientists and institutions who conduct and facilitate autism research.

Bryan noted that there are ways to participate beyond serious pedaling, including donating or volunteering. “This is a family-friendly event where there are distances of 62 miles down to four and eight miles.”

Everyone knows someone who is affected by autism. “People in my extended family are affected by this. There’s a full scale — some are a lot more social and some folks need full time help their entire lives. And I’ve seen not only the effect it has on children, but also the families that dedicate their lives to providing better care.”

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