Best of the Buddy Walks

[Jenifer]

I was wondering if any of you would want to share some of the neatest things you've experienced at Buddy Walks over the years. It can be about entertainment/activities that were offered, awards, speakers, really good food, or just something that touched you. I'm always looking for ideas to enhance our Buddy Walk each year, and couldn't think of any better resource than Uno!

Jenifer, mom to Joy

[Jackie]

I think our Buddy Walk this year was just about perfect. We had terrific 70 degree weather and no wind. The only thing I regret is that for some reason we did not have many Emily's age there...not sure why ...except some of the guys have to work Saturdays and save time off for SO events.

We had a lot of games this year...Rockwall climbing, Milk the Cow, Two Moon Walks and some others...mainly for younger kids. Also several therapy agencies came and set up booths like face painting...cotton candy, etc.

We served free hot dogs, cokes and chips to everyone and the smell was ....heavenly.

We also had Chris and Joe and John entertain which was terrific but they are pricey.

Our walk is twice around the park....or not quite two miles. We have fact sheet posters about DS on poles all the way around.

My favorite this year was.....DOWN SYNDROME DOES NOT RESULT FROM ANYTHING THE PARENTS DO......lol...like all DS babies are found under cabbage patch leaves.....LOL.

Then in a large circle at the beginning of the walk we have everyones homemade posters displayed which are nice. I would suggest though that people use large pics and not a lot of text....and have them laminated. That way if it rains they survive and can be used another year.

Our citizens with DS wore red shirts and the rest of us wore the traditional white ones with sponsors on the back. We ordered WAY too many shirts this year...and while we made a bundle and had a full park...many of the donors just sent in $ and didnt attend so didnt pick up a shirt.

Last year we made sure everyone still got their shirt...this year they had to come to get it....and we gave away many at the end.

Jackie

[Betty & Ian's Mom]

We just had our Buddy Walk last Sunday, it was a bit nippy out but sunny. Everyone had a great time.

We had face painting, little pumkins for the kiddies to decorate, a moon walk and live entertainment. We had the local fire & police come out and hand out literature to the parents and fire engine & ambulance for the little ones sit in and get pics taken, McGruff the crime fighitng dog was there to, we also had a clown that did balloon animals, flowers & did tricks for the kids.

We had a silent auction, and raffles of lots of prizes. One of the girls that I worked on the walk with, her family had owned a restaurant, and the donated their services in serving out hamburgers & hotdogs, soda pop & bottled water for everyone.

We had a lady who donated her time to photograph families and give out the picture disk for the families to keep (that was new this year). We had a couple of therapy booths, NADS had their own booth to.

At the start of our Walk we have a couple people hold a HUGE banner that was donated from my friends sign shop and then we all do the 1 mile walk together.

Last year was my first time doing a walk, and my most memorable thing is when everyone line up to walk, I was just so, what's the word I'm looking for, Overwhelmed and just started crying that all these people came out to raise monies for all people with ds & their families, just touched me in a way I have never felt before, so I'm starting to get a little emotional here , but any way, if I can think of more things for your Walk, I'll let you know, cuz right now I'm putting on my thinking cap for new ideas for next years Walk.