From the Cleveland Plain Dealer Metro blog, Montgomery, AL,  Advertiser , Zanesville, Ohio, Times-Recorder,  WOOD-TV 8 [Grand Rapids, MI], Reno Gazette Journal, My FOX Boston (with video), and the Biloxi, MS, Sun Herald:

Thousands gathered in regional events across the nation this weekend to promote awareness, acceptance and advocacy for people with Down syndrome and autism.

Sponsored by the National Down Syndrome Society and Autism Speaks, the events brought walkers together for a day of celebration at venues like the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland; the Riverwalk baseball stadium in Montgomery, Alabama; the state capitol in Boise, Idaho; and in sports stadiums and parks from Wakefield, Massachusetts, to Reno, Nevada, and beyond. Among the walkers were people with Down syndrome and autism, supported by teams of families, friends, schools and businesses.

At Cleveland’s Walk Now for Autism event, Angel Russo headed up a team of 30 friends and relatives who came from as far away as Philadelphia to show their support. “It means a lot to me that they’re here,” said Russo, 22, who has Asperger’s syndrome.

“I’m overwhelmed,” said Kim Dove in Anderson, South Carolina. “We have come so far in accepting children with special needs.” Her 5-year-old daughter has Down syndrome.

“Today was an incredible day of celebration with friends who want to raise awareness, raise money and raise the hope of a better world for all people with Down syndrome” said Nancy Brozek, Executive Director of the Down Syndrome Association of Western Michigan. Record-breaking attendance at the Buddy Walk in Grand Rapids helped the Western Michigan group raise $80,000. The website for Autism Speaks reports that organization-sponsored walks this year have raised more than $21 million to date in the U.S., Canada and the United Kingdom.

See also:

Anderson Buddy Walk gives families chance to celebrate special members – [Anderson, SC] Independent-Mail

Parents say Down syndrome awareness could save lives (video) – WISH-TV, Indianapolis

1,200 gather in Boise to celebrate those with Down syndrome – KTVB Boise, Idaho

Buddy Walk a huge success – KTRV, FOX 12, Boise, Idaho

2,000 turn out for Omaha Buddy Walk — Omaha World-Herald

Buddy Walk in East Stroudsburg draws more than 500 – Pocono Record, northeast Pennsylvania

Buddy Walk raises awareness, funds for Down syndrome – Bluefield [WV] Daily Telegraph

Area teen’s Eagle Scout project is organizing walk for Down syndrome – Southeast Missourian

(Photos from the Montgomery Advertiser, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Biloxi Sun Herald)

This entry was posted on Monday, October 12th, 2009 at 11:14 am and is filed under advocacy, Down syndrome, NOT2BEMISSED, public attitudes. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.