While parts of this year's Buddy Walk will look a bit different (thank you COVID-19), the essence of the Buddy Walk will NOT change - we can't wait to CELEBRATE our loved ones with Down syndrome!
It goes without saying that 2020 has been a difficult year for everyone, and we need your help raising the funds needed to carry DSANI into 2021 and beyond! The Buddy Walk is our most important fundraiser of the year - and the one that sustains us from year to year. It allows us to continue to bring you the programs, workshops, activities, outreach and acceptance efforts that we have provided for over 20 years!
We encourage you to create your fundraising team and then share your personalized team page with your families, friends, neighbors & co-workers asking them to donate to your team. A link to create your team page and one to register as a walker AND order your "official" Buddy Walk t-shirts appear later in this email.
You will receive frequent Buddy Walk Alerts with more details, leading up to the Buddy Walk; but for now, listed below is a quick peek at how Buddy Walk Day (September 12th) will look this year:
9:45 am - Virtual opening ceremonies (which may be seen on our Facebook page and possibly other outlets as well)
10:00 am - You are encouraged to gather your team (in whatever numbers you are comfortable with), and walk the "official" 1.2 mile path in a location of your choosing. Take selfies and/or videos during this time, and share them on the DSANI Facebook page, using the hashtag #FWBUDDYWALK.
11 am - 1 pm - DECORATE YOUR VEHICLE to celebrate your Honored Walker and head to Turnstone's Parking Lot A to participate in a DRIVE THRU CAR PARADE! There, your Honored Walker will receive their Buddy Walk medal, sibs & other kids will receive their completion ribbons and everyone will receive goodie bags (while supplies last). It will be a fun, upbeat atmosphere - from the comfort of your vehicle - with other surprises in store!
As always - EVERY Honored Walker (those with Down syndrome) can receive a FREE t-shirt, but you must reserve that shirt through this link: https://app.donorview.com/9Zbp8. The deadline to order t-shirts, and be guaranteed a t-shirt in your size is AUGUST 19. There will be a very small quantity of extra t-shirts available at the drive thru car parade.
To set up your Buddy Walk team, use this link: https://app.donorview.com/KNQgX.
You, and anyone else who wish to register as a virtual walker, should use the same link as the t-shirt link. BUT...please create your team first, so that walkers can choose the correct team to join.
There will be a Zoom call on Tuesday, July 28 at 6:30 pm for those who wish to join and get step-by-step instructions on how to set up your teams. The email with log-in information will go out on Monday!
The health and well-being of our DSANI families is at the core of every decision that we make. We appreciate your understanding - AND YOUR PARTICIPATION, as we pivot to a (mostly) virtual format this year. We are excited that we will still get to celebrate our loved ones with that little something extra on September 12th!