In conjunction with its 20th anniversary and World Autism Awareness Month 2026, Early Autism Project Malaysia is organising Run for Autism 2026, aimed at raising funds to expand access to autism services nationwide. The two-week virtual run will culminate in an autism-friendly charity carnival and fun run on 18 April 2026 at Perdana Botanical Gardens, Kuala Lumpur, with all proceeds going to Early Autism Project’s non-profit arm, The Hope Project.

Funds raised will support key initiatives under The Hope Project, including the development of the free Autism At Home digital app, as well as subsidised services for families and support for non-profit autism centres nationwide through clinical upskilling and capacity building. The Autism At Home app is designed to empower parents, teachers, and caregivers with accessible resources, training modules, and practical guides to reach thousands of families across Malaysia and beyond.

Registrations for the Run for Autism 2026 are open online until 12 April 2026, with a participation fee of RM80 (inclusive of a race kit, T-shirt, and e-certificate upon completion). The virtual run is open to individuals aged 12 and above, and participants may choose to collect their race packs in person or have them delivered.

Please register for the virtual run at the following link: https://getbiib.com/events/1600.

Participants will accumulate 20km at their own pace, anytime and anywhere, between 2 and 18 April 2026. The challenge can be completed across multiple sessions, with participants tracking and submitting their distance digitally.

All participants will then be invited to complete their final lap at the Run for Autism Carnival on 18 April at Perdana Botanical Gardens, through a community fun run.

Members of the public who prefer not to complete the full 20km virtual run can still support the cause by joining the final lap fun run at the carnival for RM50 (inclusive of a race kit). Alternatively, the public is welcome to attend the carnival, cheer on participants, and support autism-friendly booths by non-profit organisations.

Please register for the carnival at the following link: https://forms.gle/55x4yMLzMAqJCAh58.

The final lap fun run will be flagged off by the Chairman of Majlis Sukan Wilayah, Datuk Stuart Ramalingam, and led by autism advocates Dr Say Shazril and Dr Azura Abas.

“Run for Autism2026isnot just a celebration of 20 years of Early Autism Project, but also a milestone for The Hope Project as it marks its 10th anniversary. With the number of children diagnosed with autism in Malaysia rising by over 660% from 2013 to 2023, there has never been a more important time to come together in support of neurodiverse individuals. We invite Malaysians to run with purpose, knowing that every step taken in this run will contribute directly to resources, services, and programmes that empower families and children on the autism spectrum across Malaysia.” – Dr Jochebed Isaacs, Director of Early Autism Project.

The Run for Autism Carnival promises a vibrant day of inclusive activities, performances, and community engagement. Highlights include warm-up sessions led by DailyMuscle LightHouse alongside neurodiverse young adults, live performances by Zimi J, a band comprising musicians with autism, and autism-friendly booths by Autism Cafe Project, NASOM, ARISMA, IDEAS Autism Centre, and Stand PieMe. Families can also enjoy activities such as face painting, reading corners, Milo and Koko-Krunch trucks, as well as free autism screenings supervised by the Early Autism Project team.

Partners, including Nestle Malaysia, ZUSCoffee, DailyMuscle LightHouse, Purple Box Sdn. Bhd., and Nozig, support the event with the venue generously provided by Perdana Botanical Gardens, Kuala Lumpur.

Since its establishment in 2006, the 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.

Early Autism Project Malaysia is dedicated to providing education, therapy, and support to children and families across the country. The Hope Project focuses on making world-class autism services accessible to all through advocacy campaigns, subsidised services, and community-based initiatives. Run for Autism 2026 offers an opportunity for the wider community to engage, learn, and contribute to ongoing efforts to raise awareness and promote inclusion for individuals on the autism spectrum.