Peyton Dyke, who turns 3 this week, was diagnosed a year ago with autism. Supporters will have a team called Voices for Peyton at an Autism Speaks event in October.

The Jones family had a garage sale and bake sale at their McLouth home during the McLouth Threshing Bee to help raise funds for a team of youths participating in Autism Speaks’ Walk Now For Autism event Oct. 10 at Kansas Speedway. Pictured clockwise from upper left are Mike, Dixie, Kyle and Colton Jones. Kyle has autism and is an eighth-grader at McLouth Middle School.

McLouth ? Supporters of two autistic McLouth youths are planning to put feet to pavement in October at the Kansas Speedway.

Kyle Jones, an eighth-grader at McLouth Middle School, and Peyton Dyke, who turns 3 on Thursday, have autism.

Both will have teams walking in their honor at Walk Now For Autism on Oct. 10 at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan. The event is organized by Autism Speaks, an advocacy group.

Kyle’s team is Kyle’s Crew, while Peyton’s is being called Voices For Peyton.

Peyton’s aunt, Angie Cammack, is organizing Peyton’s team. She said Peyton was diagnosed last September.

“Honestly, I didn’t know anything about autism until Peyton was diagnosed,” Cammack said.

She then did research about the condition and is now getting involved with Autism Speaks.

“Obviously it’s near and dear to our hearts,” she said.

Peyton’s parents are Tom and Brenda Dyke.

A Texas Hold-’em Poker Tournament was held Friday at the Threshing Bee Grounds in McLouth for the team to raise money for the walk. A horseshoe tournament is planned for Sept.12 at the same venue. Cammack said the Threshing Bee Association was “kind enough” to offer its grounds for the events.

Kyle’s Crew held a garage and bake sale earlier this month to raise funds.

Dixie Jones said one of Kyle’s classmates, Connor Patterson, initiated getting a team together for the walk.

“She’s been there her entire life for Kyle,” Jones said. “If Kyle is having a bad day, she’s been the first one there to help him. She’s a very kind-hearted young lady.”

Cammack spoke highly of Autism Speaks’ efforts, noting 75 cents of every dollar donated to the group goes to research and development, as well as grants and programs to assist families of autistic people.

Cammack also voiced concerns that there are no current requirements for health insurance coverage of autism in Kansas.

A measure addressing insurance coverage for autistic people is alive in both the Kansas House and Senate and is to be taken up again when the 2010 session starts in January. The proposed bill, the Assessing Autism Services Bill, or Katie’s Law, would require that health insurance cover diagnosis and treatment of autism disorders in the state.

For more information or to donate to Kyle’s Crew, contact Dixie Jones at 913-796-6881. And for more information or to donate to Voices For Peyton, call Cammack at (913) 796-0106.