BRATTLEBORO — On Saturday, Oct. 3, Brattleboro will host its seventh annual Buddy Walk.
The Buddy Walk was first developed by the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) in 1995 to celebrate Down Syndrome Awareness Month in October and to promote acceptance and inclusion of people with Down syndrome.
The Buddy Walk has grown from 17 walks in 1995 to nearly 300 walks planned for 2015 worldwide. In 2014, more than $13 million was raised nationwide to benefit local programs and services, as well as the national advocacy and public awareness initiatives of NDSS that benefit all individuals with Down syndrome.
This year's Brattleboro Buddy Walk will be a celebration of past accomplishments, as well as future goals for raising awareness and promoting inclusion in the community. Everyone is welcome to join this special celebration at the Brattleboro Common at 10 a.m.
In addition to a one-mile walk in which anyone can participate, the 2015 Brattleboro Buddy Walk will include a presentation by participants of the Inclusion Center, as well as lunch, live music, games, prizes, and vendors that support inclusion for individuals of all abilities.
The walk seeks to not only help raise awareness and promote inclusion for people of all abilities, but will also raise important funds for the Inclusion Center in Brattleboro.
The Inclusion Center is a drop-in, activity center for people with disabilities and interested community members. It provides a fun and safe environment for individuals of all ages living with disabilities, and all our friends in the community, to come together to engage in social, recreational, and educational activities. It is open two afternoons a week and located in Brattleboro.
The Inclusion Center Inc. is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization."
Registration for this year's Brattleboro Buddy Walk is free for individuals who collect $100 or more in pledges for The Inclusion Center.
So join the fun and register early at www.BrattleboroBuddyWalk.org or call Jim Nicholson at 802-258-4699.