FOUNTAIN SPRINGS - Take a walk this Sunday at North Schuylkill Junior/Senior High School at the fourth annual Schuylkill County Buddy Walk to support Down syndrome awareness.
The Schuylkill County Buddy Walk, co-sponsored by the Faith and Friends Walking Hand in Hand Committee and the Northern Schuylkill Jaycees, will be held at North Schuylkill's Ghosh Orthodontics Field. Registration will be from noon to 1 p.m. followed by the walk from 1 to 4 p.m. Everyone is welcome. For more information, call event Chairwoman Bridget Schwartz at 570-449-5089.
Created in 1995 by the National Down Syndrome Society, the Buddy Walk is an event promoting acceptance and understanding of people with Down syndrome. The NDSS states on its website that Down syndrome is the most commonly occurring chromosomal condition. One in every 691 babies in the United States is born with Down syndrome and there are more than 400,000 people living with the condition in the U.S. It occurs in people of all races and economic levels.
A resident of Pottsville, Schwartz has a 4-year-old daughter, Faith, with Down syndrome.
"It will be five years on Monday my daughter, Faith, was born with Down syndrome," Schwartz said. "Afterwards, my husband and I were looking for an organization that we could join so we could have that support, but we could find nothing in the area. If we wanted to join a support group, we would have to go to Allentown."
She discovered the Buddy Walk event through the NDSS website, which led to the local walk.
"About one month prior to the walk (in 2009), when I was doing about everything on my own, I got into contact with a Northern Schuylkill Jaycees member and said they would like to help," Schwartz said. "They got involved and we're one big, happy family. Without them (the Jaycees), we wouldn't be where we are today."
The Buddy Walk became just one event put together by the committee over the last few years, so they decided to form an organization that would encompass the Buddy Walk and other activities, leading to the formation of the Faith and Friends Walking Hand in Hand.
"We are a nonprofit organization that does a lot of events with our families, like going to the Reading Phillies, have a dinner for our families, have guest speakers coming to give presentations," Schwartz said.
"All of the money we raise stays in Schuylkill County," she continued. "We also make 'Welcome Baskets,' which are given to parents of children with Down syndrome. In the basket we have books that are educational and inspiration, items for the baby, Down syndrome awareness items for them. It actually has come a long way. It's not just the walk. Throughout the whole year we're doing all sorts of events."
Faith and Friends has applied for 501(c)3 nonprofit status and is waiting for approval.
She said the event did well the first year and had grown each year.
"We have a really good group of families who get other families involved," Schwartz said. "It makes a big difference."
The first Buddy Walk in 2009 was held at Pottsville Area High School and drew 250 walkers and raised $3,000. In 2010, the walk was held at Pottsville High and drew about 400, raising about $6,000. The walk was moved to North Schuylkill in 2011 and had about 500 people participating, raising about $11,000. The goal this year is 600 to 700 walkers and to raise $15,000.
Anyone who cannot participate but want to make a donation can do so with a check made to Schuylkill County Buddy Walk and sent to P.O. Box 103, Pottsville 17901.
"Throughout the year, we are also looking for volunteers because we do a lot for our families," Schwartz said.