Brooke VanTyne – Founder & Director of Resources
Brooke is a devoted wife, mother of five boys, and a passionate follower of Christ whose journey into advocacy began with her youngest son’s autism diagnosis at just two and a half years old. Navigating the complexities of Autism Spectrum Disorder, Sensory Processing Disorder, and other medical challenges within her blended family has shaped her calling: to create safe, grace-filled spaces for families walking similar paths.
With over 15 years of experience in office administration, program management, and nonprofit service, Brooke brings both professional expertise and personal conviction to her leadership. Her heart for ministry is rooted in biblical encouragement, and she is committed to equipping families with practical resources—from natural remedies to spiritual tools—grounded in faith and compassion.
Through her nonprofit work, she shares her “marathon toolkit” with others, offering endurance, hope, and community for the long-distance race of parenting, caregiving, and faith. Every step she takes is guided by the belief that we are called to run with perseverance the race marked out for us—and she is honored to run alongside you.
Arlene Fuller – Co-Founder & Director of Finances
Arlene’s journey with the special needs community began in middle school when she met a young man who would come over to her in the lunchroom each day to tell her, “Hi”. He would wait until she said “Hi” back and then get back in line with his class. Early on, Bradley’s teacher came over and asked if it was okay that he was going up to her, explaining that he was autistic. Bradley continued to faithfully acknowledge her and even gave her a construction paper card for Valentine’s Day. Almost 40 years later, she still has that card.
In high school, Arlene was a “Mother’s Helper” for a non-verbal little girl who was born with spina bifida. She became active in the special needs ministry that was started at her church by the parents of the little girl. She got to tell Bible stories to adults from a local group home during her time serving there. While in college, she interned with the Piedmont Infant Intervention program where she assisted with in-home assessments for children ages two and under. Though she never had a career in the special needs field, she always had a soft spot in her heart for these families.
Through her adult life, Arlene became close with several parents of children with Autism diagnoses. She had the privilege of learning about the unique needs care-givers have and how different life is for them. She learned that friendships with care-givers look different and might mostly be over the phone. And if they were able to come for a visit, maybe there would need to be a safe, quiet space available for their child who would be with them. Arlene is honored to be part of Distant Light and has a passion to serve individuals with special needs and their care-givers. She believes the Lord set her on this path knowing she would end up being part of this amazing non-profit. She looks forward to this new part of her life-quest.
BethAnn Thornhill – Nutrition Coach
BethAnn is an enthusiastic wife, mother of three and a daughter of the Most High King! She is passionate about living actively, holistically, and within the will of God.
Her unconventional healing journey began in 2022 after her third child began experiencing significant food and skin sensitivities as an infant. Her own health had also noticeably declined in recent years and her experiences with conventional doctors steered her away from their recommendations. Through the Holy Spirit’s guidance, she found help from a naturopath and immersed herself into researching environmental toxins and how they contribute to our overall wellbeing. She learned how to minimize exposure to these toxins and is eager to share with others what she’s learned and applied to her own life. Over the past 2 years her daughter has slowly acquired the ability to digest a broader scope of food items. BethAnn believes that God designed our bodies with the ability to heal using natural remedies that can be grown and harvested as a direct result of God’s perfect design in creation. She is excited for the opportunity to grow her understanding of all of these different mechanisms and help others along their own special needs journey using an unconventional yet highly effective approach.
