ClarksvilleNow.com Reporting
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CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – If you are a listener of Q108 WCVQ-FM, you are probably familiar with on air personality Scott Chase. One thing you may not know is that Scott has a 15-year old son with moderate autism. His name is Chase Bechtel and he has recently taken on the challenge of helping others his age to have a fun summer experience.

Chase is a freshman at Centennial High School in Franklin, TN, and has decided to walk the Country Music Half Marathon in Nashville on April 25 to raise funds for himself and other kids attending this year’s YMCA Camp Widjiwagan. The inclusive summer camp allows him the opportunity to enjoy fun and challenging activities with his peers.

“This is a really big step for Chase’s personal development and a way for him to feel a sense of accomplishment, which is so important to him. We’re hoping friends, family and anyone who wants to support Chase’s efforts will make a contribution,” Scott said. “He truly is a blessing. He helps me see the world through a different set of eyes and he always makes me laugh.”

The fees for one child to attend camp this year are roughly $3,500. Chase hopes to make enough money to send kids with disabilities to camp that would otherwise not be able to go. He has a Facebook page, “A Walk for Widji” that chronicles his progress in training for the marathon. Chase also has a Fundly account to collect donations. His goal is to raise $5,000. At least half of his proceeds will go to Easter Seals, the organization that provides assistance to Camp Widjiwagan participants with disabilities.

Ten years ago, Chase’s mother Angela ran the marathon to raise money for the consultants, tutors, and other professionals that address her son’s special needs, calling it “The Race for Chase.”

“Chase is a sweet, lovable guy with amazing potential, and it’s exciting to imagine what his future holds,” Angela said. “He may not fully grasp the commitment he’s made to walk 13.1 miles, but we’ll be by his side to encourage him every step of the way. Maybe someone will hear about Chase’s walk and gain a whole new perspective about what a person with a disability is capable of accomplishing.”

Chase’s training includes doing activities such as swimming and walking almost every day after school, and he recently finished his first 5K. Scott remembers, “Chase and I ran/walked his first 5K and he helped raise $500 for Best Buddies, an organization that helps people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.”