2023 Buddy Walk Registration Now Open!
This year the MDSC will be hosting two walk options to suit your family’s needs for connecting, building community and spreading awareness!
Buddy Walk – Wakefield
Join us for the Buddy Walk in Wakefield on October 8th as we walk around Lake Quanapowitt as we have for more than 25 years to celebrate the inclusion of all individuals with Down syndrome!
Buddy Walk in Your Community
For those further afield or wanting to gather locally with friends and family, our members could choose to walk in the comfort of their own community throughout the month of October.
About the Buddy Walk
The MDSC Buddy Walk® Program gives individuals, schools, community groups, and local businesses across the state an opportunity to get involved in fundraising campaigns and events year-round, all intended to promote the acceptance and inclusion of people with Down syndrome.
The statewide campaign is anchored by our signature Buddy Walk & Family Festival. It also includes major and minor events throughout Massachusetts, such as the Buddy Walk & Harvest Fair in Central Massachusetts, a number of school fundraisers, and other fundraisers endorsed by the MDSC.
Funds raised by the MDSC Buddy Walk Program go toward critical programs and services including:
Parents First Call, Advocates in Motion (AIM), Self Advocate Advisory Council, Educator’s Forum, Educator’s Manual, Annual Conference, Legislative Advocacy on a state and national level, Allen Crocker Self Advocate Internship Program, Your Next Star Employment Center and so much more.
All of these programs have directly led to better lives for people with Down syndrome in Massachusetts and beyond. Join us and be a part of the warmth and determination of our community.
National Buddy Walk Program
The Buddy Walk is an advocacy initiative launched in 1995 by The National Down Syndrome Society. It serves as a vehicle to generate significant awareness and understanding of Down syndrome nationally, while simultaneously raising critical funds to support local programs and services offered by The MDSC. As a proud affiliate of The NDSS, a portion of all proceeds from Buddy Walk campaigns go to support national advocacy initiatives aimed at improving the quality of life of individuals with Down syndrome.
If you’re interested getting involved in the Buddy Walk program, please email us at buddywalk@mdsc.org or click on the link below for more information.
