Submitted Photo Shannon Schmidt, left, and Kylee Geer are the founders of the Minot Walk for Autism, creating the event in 2017.

The seventh annual Walk for Autism will be held at the Minot State University Dome on Saturday, April 6.

The 2024 Walk for Autism is being held indoors this year, giving those who can not walk in the cold weather a chance to participate and support their community.

Kylee Geer contacted Janna McKechnie in MSU’s athletics department and asked if she and the other volunteers would be able to use the Dome. Everything was approved and the date was set.

Registration will begin at 9:45 a.m. and the walk will follow at 10 a.m. If those who want to attend would like to register before the event, it can be done at eventbrite.com.

The Minot Police Department and the Minot Fire Department will be in attendance to greet people as they arrive and take pictures.

In addition, representatives from Nature’s Nook provide face painting, an indoor planetarium and many other activities.

Families are welcome to take breaks as needed. The walk is being held from 10 a.m.-noon.

The Minot Walk for Autism was founded by Geer and Shannon Schmidt in 2017.

“I … was lucky enough to know many families in our area with a loved one with autism,” said Geer, a speech language pathologist.

They wanted to create an event at which families felt included and supported by the community. They also wanted to give parents the opportunity to connect with other parents.

All the walks in the past were held outdoors, and several families turned up – rain, snow or shine. Because the event was outdoors, walkers were allowed to bring their dogs on their mile-long trek. However, dogs will not be allowed in the Dome.

The event has grown every year. According to Geer, last year’s walk drew around 200 people from Minot and the surrounding area.