Building on the theme of this year's Annual Conference, the MDSC has officially launched our 17th Annual Buddy Walk & Family Festival, dubbed the "Walk for Real Lives." Teams can sign up and individuals can donate here.
The name, the "Walk for Real Lives," like our Real Lives Conference, stems from the "Real Lives Bill," the critical piece of state legislation that promises to give people with Down syndrome and other disabilities more control over the their funds and their lives.
This year, we are pleased to report that some things remain the same, and some things are different. In the first category, we are thrilled to welcome back our lead sponsor, Verizon.
In the latter category, you might notice a slightly different name. We felt that our previous name, Buddy Walk & Family Picnic, didn't quite describe the "festival" atmosphere and the variety of entertainment offerings - live performances, face-painting, music-making, climbing trucks, etc. - that our Buddy Walk now boasts. That is why it is now more accurately called the Buddy Walk & Family Festival.
Second, in response to demands for more variety in the food offerings, we are launching a new lunch program. Rather than include lunch in the cost of registration, we are giving you more control over your lunch options. You can reserve a bagged lunch when you register for an additional cost, or you can buy food from private vendors who will be on site throughout the event.
The MDSC Buddy Walk Program is New England's largest public awareness platform to promote acceptance and inclusion of people with Down syndrome. The Buddy Walk & Family Festival, our signature walk, takes place during National Down Syndrome Awareness Month and draws in 4,000 people to celebrate our community and support the important work of the MDSC.
We ask that all walkers, ages 13 and up, strive to reach the $150 fundraising minimum by October 31st. Your fundraising efforts are critical to our mission and directly impact programs and services that provide hope to new and expectant parents, training to medical professionals and students, best practices to educators, opportunities for teens and adults, and a strong voice on Capitol Hill.