Autism Community's Hero Designs Awareness Jersey
Christian Mast Video on Designing the Jerseys
HAMILTON, N.Y. – Head Coach Scott Wiley and the Colgate
women's hockey team have announced that 11-year-old Christian Mast
will be the designer of this year's autism awareness jersey that
will be worn during the team's 2012 Autism Awareness Project
kick-off weekend on Feb. 3 and 4.
“Christian has become a part of the Colgate women's hockey
family over the past year,” stated Wiley. "He is an extremely
talented, caring and inspiring individual and we were excited to
give him an opportunity to show his creativity through designing
this year's autism awareness jersey.”
Christian is an author, hockey player, student, friend, brother
and son who has autism, a neurological disorder that affects
the normal functioning of the brain, impacting development in the
areas of social interaction and communication skills. It
is characterized, in varying degrees, by difficulties in
social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication and
repetitive behaviors.
“I think that what Christian does for the autism community
is amazing,” said proud mother and committee chair of the
Central New York Community of Autism Speaks, Erin Mast. “He
has a huge heart and just wants to belong. That is what he has with
the entire group at Colgate, a sense of belonging. He is treated
like a part of the team. I cannot put into words how it feels to
see this group embrace and accept him for who he is. Christian is
certainly my hero.”
Christian created numerous designs for the autism awareness jersey
and will find out which design was picked when the jersey is
unveiled to the team prior to the Light Up Starr Rink Blue game on
Friday, Feb. 3 against Union at 7 p.m. The jerseys, along with
other items, will be auctioned off as part of the project's
fund-raising plan.
The Upstate New York native has received local and national
attention for his fund-raising efforts and goals, one of which
includes raising one million dollars for Autism Speaks.
To read more about Christian Mast and his projects on Autism
Light, please click here.
