Buddy Walk!!!

Mommy is getting very, very excited! The Buddy Walk is almost here! Down syndrome Outreach of Whatcom County is holding our 4th Annual Buddy Walk on October 6th at the Maritime Heritage Park in Bellingham. Mommy has been working so very hard to get this event organized and really looks forward to seeing all our friends, family, co-workers, community and more there to support National Down Syndrome Awareness Month!

The Buddy Walk was developed by the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) in 1995 to promote acceptance and awareness of people with Down syndrome. This event is held nationwide and touches thousands of lives! Last year, we had 484 people attend the Buddy Walk here in Bellingham and we are expecting over 500 this year! Wow.

So Mommy wants to thank everyone for their support. This 1.25 mile walk is also our largest fundraising event and helps Down syndrome Outreach of Whatcom County fulfill our mission: To advocate for the rights, promote the potential and abilities, and create a supportive and inclusive community for people with Down syndrome, their families and individuals whose lives include a person with Down syndrome. Funds from this event also support NDSS on a national level regarding advocacy issues, research, and community support.

To give an example of how important this event is on a local level, if we did not have the Buddy Walk, many programs offered would not be possible. For example, DsO of Whatcom County has hosted events such as adapted cooking lessons, financial planning speakers, and inclusion/support activities such as a trip to the Seattle Aquarium. These supportive activities (and lots of other fantastic events) would never have happened without the support from the Buddy Walk. We also provide emotional support to new families, community advocacy, and more!

This Buddy Walk is also a celebration. We've got face painters, balloon artists, music, dancing, information booths, door prizes, goody bags, and lots of fun! Enjoy hot coffee/cocoa, friends, and a stroll through Bellingham all while supporting me! Dylan! So please join us on October 6th! We'd love your show of support and if you would like to be on TEAM DYLAN...just let us know! I'm the team Captain! I'm an excellent team Captain who will walk some but then maybe one of you can cuddle with me while I let you carry me the rest of the walk. Mommy is also going to bring my Mariners Wagon that I won last year for me to ride in too. Won't that be fun? Jonah wants to ride his 4-wheeler that he got for his birthday but Mommy said that a stroller might be the best. GO TEAM DYLAN and thanks again for your support.

If you would like to give to the Buddy Walk, please let Mommy know. She'll give you all the details. For more information about the Buddy Walk, click here! Mommy also has lots of information too so she can help answer your questions. And for those of you local DsO participants, Mommy wants you to look in your mailbox. Your registration packets should be arriving! Hooray!