Bermuda Autism Support and Education (BASE) will hold a denim day as a fundraiser this Friday.

BASE helps provide free support services for families of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

The charity is hoping to raise at least $10,000 from the annual event.

Members of the community are asked to show their support by wearing denim and awareness ribbons as part of World Autism Awareness Month, which runs through April.

BASE president Jenny Purvey said: "Continued funding for our services is critical, especially in today's challenging economic climate. The cost of caring for a child with autism is crippling for most families.

"With up to 20 hours of therapy required at an average $150 an hour, a recent Harvard study put the average cost of services for an individual with autism at $3.2 million over his or her lifetime.

"In Bermuda, unlike the US, there is no insurance coverage for autism-related services beyond initial diagnosis."

All funds donated to BASE are used to defray the cost of seminars and workshops and update the organisation's library.