這一家人為健康、為快樂而跑！

「跑步，是世上最佳藥物！」奧林匹克長跑運動員瑞恩‧霍爾(Ryan Hall)說道，他持有美國馬拉松全程和半程的最快紀錄。

對許多人來說，跑步和跑完一場馬拉松是一生中的成就，可是對於作者一家人來說，跑步是他們生活的方法。

在去年紐約馬拉松，《早安美國》與《全球現場》現場直播兩位自閉症青年兄弟參與馬拉松的報導後，這兩位「沉默的」兄弟成為全美焦點，因他們是罕見挑戰路跑的自閉症者，而他們沉默的跑的堅持與動力也帶動家人一起跑。這家人經常穿著運動服、繫緊球鞋鞋帶，至今已完成130公里。

作者的一對雙胞胎兒子──艾力克斯和傑米，當他們21個月大時，就被診斷是自閉症孩子，無法用語言與人交流，有時會做出自殘行為，他們甚至無法自己過馬路，被認定是一輩子無法獨立生活的人。然而，在一次機緣中，公益組織鼎力協助，讓這兩個男孩完成一項史無前例的創舉：跑完一場馬拉松。此後，他們就這樣沉默的跑步，至今已完成130公里的路跑，包括參加兩場波士頓馬拉松和紐約馬拉松。

這兩位沉默的跑者也激起家人跑步的熱情，一起參加路跑，而這家人的座右銘就是：全家人一起跑，一起活下來。「跑步是我們的生活」作者說道。

這對兄弟現在23歲了。正當家人欣喜見到他們因跑步而帶來的改變與進步時，艾力克斯罹患多發性硬化症，而母親也是本書作者被診斷患有乳癌。即使家族兩位成員面臨生死挑戰的關卡，跑步仍是他們與各自生命與健康搏鬥的最佳武器。他們努力跨越跑步的每個柵欄的勇氣與不服輸，激勵無數正使勁戰勝難以克服的障礙的家庭和每個人。

《早安美國》新聞報導：

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0h0NIn5O3lA

《全球現場》新聞報導：

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7V0wc4fUrtE

《紐約時報》報導：

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/03/nyregion/nyregionspecial2/03colli.html?_r=0

Robyn K. Schneider was a VP in non-profit human services management and later worked in legislative affairs as an advocate for autism services. Robyn advocates for improving outcomes for children and adults on the autism spectrum as well as promoting the benefits of exercise for individuals with autism and other medical conditions. She’s written articles and blogs on topics related to autism, and she and her family have been featured in numerous major media outlets. Robyn lives in Great Neck, New York, with her husband and two sons. For more information about her and her family, visit: www.autismrunners.com and www.robynkschneider.com.

Kate Hopper is the author of Ready for Air: A Journey Through Premature Motherhood and Use Your Words: A Writing Guide for Mothers. She holds an MFA in creative writing and teaches writing, leads writing retreats, and provides editorial feedback to writers. For more information visit www.katehopper.com

"Running can be the best medicine in the world. It can heal us, relieve us of our anxiety, and even, if only for a few brief moments, remove us from the trials we face. Robyn Schneider knows all too well how powerful running can be in helping a family through the most trying of circumstances. Her story is inspiring and life giving. She is an example to us all on how to run through the daily trials we all face."──奧林匹克長跑運動員瑞恩‧霍爾(Ryan Hall)，持有美國馬拉松全程和半程的最快紀錄。