Exploring an 88,000-seat football stadium during the off-season offers a unique sense of freedom.

Unhindered by throngs of rowdy fans, approximately 200 community members set out Saturday to complete laps within Ben Hill Griffin Stadium’s wide-open concourses and march up and down its empty bleachers. Any route – no matter how circuitous – was an acceptable method of participation in the 17^th annual Stomp the Swamp, a fundraiser organized by the University of Florida’s Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD).

“It’s not a seriously competitive event,” said Gregory Valcante, an associate professor with CARD. “It’s the fun of the event.”

A UF student, Amanda Cruz, started Stomp the Swamp as a way to promote autism awareness and acceptance, Valcante said.

“The first year, we probably had 25 people show up,” he said. “Most of them were CARD staff members.”

Participation has since spread to the greater Gainesville community, and the event now features a small festival’s worth of diversions for families, including a silent auction and sensory-focused activities for children with autism, like a ball pit, face painting and a slime-making station.

Proceeds from Stomp the Swamp events fund services and equipment for the more than 9,000 adults and children CARD supports throughout north and central Florida. This year, the fundraiser will help families safeguard autistic children prone to wandering by paying for swim lessons and for safety equipment like window and door alarms and ID bracelets.

Valcante credited CARD’s ever-growing roster of volunteers with helping to make Stomp the Swamp resonate with participants.

“This year, people just came out of the woodwork to volunteer,” he said.

Among those donating their time Saturday were 30 members of Alpha Epsilon Delta, an honor society for UF students pursuing health-related degrees. Anela Ajkic and Miguel Bichara, the society’s pediatric directors, led efforts encouraging children to make chalk art and take hula hoops for a spin.

Autism can sometimes be misunderstood, and events like Stomp the Swamp offer a valuable learning experience, Ajkic said.

“I think it’s really important for all people to immerse themselves in different communities and accept being uncomfortable at first,” she said. “Maybe you’re not sure how to interact in these situations, but it’s something that you have to learn.”