Buddy Walk 2009 - Mount Gravatt East State School Marching Band with Tara Lloyd and Roary

What is it:

The goal of the buddy walk is three fold:

• To promote acceptance and inclusion of people with Down syndrome;
• To raise funds necessary to develop innovative and effectuve programs;
• To enhance the position of the Down syndrome community, enabling us to positively influence local and national policy and practice

The Buddy Walk was developed in 1995 to celebrate Down syndrome awareness month in October and to provide an annual public platform for advocacy. It has grown from 17 walks to 260 walks all around the world and anyone can participate without special training. There are now Buddy Walks in South Australia, Brisbane, Sydney, Perth, Melbourne, Tasmania and Canberra. It brings together people with Down syndrome and their invited "buddies" – everyone from friends and family to teachers, politicians, celebrities, sports stars and co-workers – to promote acceptance and inclusion of people with Down syndrome and to raise funds for education, research and advocacy programs. Queensland ran its first walk in 2008.

Become a Hero -

This year DSAQ used the ThankQ online fundraising platform to help raise funds. If you are interested in finding sponsors for your participation in the walk go to:
https://www.thankq.net.au/tq_community_dsyna/Register.aspx

The Buddy Walk will be the closing event of Down Syndrome Awareness Week on 17^th October 2010. We hope you join us in raising awareness and funds in 2010.