ROCKINGHAM — Several families of children with autism made their way to Krystal Dawn Retreat on Saturday for an Easter party.
This is the second year the retreat has hosted the event, partnering with the Richmond County chapter of the Autism Society of North Carolina.
In addition to an Easter egg hunt, there was also face painting, catch-and-release fishing, paddle-boating, hay rides, egg decorating and other various games.
Krystal Dawn Retreat is the vision of Barbara and Leo McAuley who visited other properties in North Carolina, as well as Virginia and Tennessee, before settling on a site on Sneads Mill Road south of Cordova to build a getaway for families with special needs children.
It’s named after Barbara McAuley’s daughter who had more than 50 surgeries in her short lifetime and died following a multiple organ transplant at the age of 13.
Barbara McAuley said the event is a good way for parents to network and learn that they’re not alone. She added that several families from Moore County made the trip down.
See more photos below.
