The following is some information from a brochure for the event:
The Buddy Walk® was developed by the National Down Syndrome Society in 1995 to bring together a wide range of concerned individuals to reach out to friends, family and co-workers to promote awareness and inclusion for people with Down syndrome and to raise funds for education, research and advocacy programs.
The Buddy Walk is a one-mile walk in which anyone can participate without special training. The Walk has grown from 17 Walks in 1995 to 252 nationwide and around the world in 2010. Hundreds of thousands of people walk from coast to coast and abroad each year. The goal of the Buddy Walk is to promote acceptance and inclusion of people with Down syndrome. In 2011, our goal is to have nearly 300 Buddy Walks across the country and abroad.
More than 252 Walks were held worldwide in 2010. For a list of where registered walks were held, please visit www.buddywalk.org and click on the “2010 Walks” link, located under “Find A Walk”.
Approximately $11,200,000 was raised nation-wide through the NDSS Buddy Walk. These funds were distributed among sponsoring Buddy Walk Organizations and the National Down Syndrome Society.
More than 285,000 individuals participated in a Buddy Walk in 2010. Since the Buddy Walk was created in 1995, more than 3,000,000 people have participated in a Buddy Walk worldwide.
The Buddy Walk is a trademarked program of the National Down Syndrome Society and was created in 1995 to assist local groups in their advocacy efforts in their communities. With nearly 300 Walks taking place each year, the National Down Syndrome Society is able to speak with a unified and stronger voice on issues of policy that affect individuals with Down syndrome.
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This is the first time we're participating in this event as this is a cause that is newly dear to our hearts. Our youngest child, born in June 2011 was unexpectedly diagnosed with Down syndrome. We're learning all we can and encouraging others to do the same. If you can support our team in this event with a donation, we would be thrilled! Thank you for your time and support!
http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/TerrificTeamTurner/7thannualbuddywalkfordownsyndrome
