2008 Woodie Awards
Benefit to help local kids
Fourth Annual Buddy Walk to take place Oct. 1
Tarah Groomer Ranger Reporter
Issue date: 9/22/05 Section: Features
The fourth annual half-mile Buddy Walk hosted by the Panhandle Down Syndrome Guild will take place Oct. 1 at Sam Houston Park.
Registration will start at 9 a.m., and the walk will begin at 10 a.m.
The Buddy Walk is an event for everyone to attend. There will be live entertainment by the local group Insufficient Funds, a dance floor, a rock-climbing wall, giveaways, bouncers, tattoos, face-painting and plenty more.
The two primary purposes of the Buddy Walk are to support those with Down syndrome and raise funds that will go to the National Down Syndrome Guild.
Members of PDSG are putting out what they call "parent packs," which are informational booklets letting people know what to expect and help them understand that things aren't as bad as they may seem.
"There are many people at Amarillo College today that are going to be faced with challenges when they have children," said Jeff Medford, treasurer of the PDSG.
One in every 800 children is born with Down syndrome.
There is nothing to prevent it. There is no cure. Gender, race or income level are not issues.
Down syndrome is a genetic condition in which instead of the usual 46 chromosomes, a child is born with 47.
More than 350,000 people have been diagnosed in the United States alone.
"We all know someone with Down syndrome somehow," said Vicki Cabrera, president and founder of PDSG. They go to the same schools, participate in local activities and most work as adults.
"People with Down syndrome are productive members of the community," Cabrera said.
"You'll never know anyone that's nicer."
Medford and Cabrera both have children with Down syndrome, Erin and Phillip. Both parents said they were shocked when they heard the news. Not having any knowledge on the subject, they searched for support groups to fully understand what was happening.
"We had a terrible experience in the hospital," Medford said.
"We were extremely depressed. We didn't know much about Down syndrome. All we could think about were the bad things.
"Now, almost three years later, my daughter Erin is the most wonderful part of our family. Coming up on three years old, she's counting, she's always smiling and brings joy everywhere."
"It was good to get out last year and meet the people and really feel like a part of the community," said Lacie Fincher, a medical data specialist graduate.
"Nobody comes out to the Buddy Walk and doesn't have a good time," Medford said.
Last year's turnout had 500 people on a rainy day. This year the sponsors hope to double that.
For more information, call 468-9088 or go to www.PanhandleDSG.org
Registration will start at 9 a.m., and the walk will begin at 10 a.m.
The Buddy Walk is an event for everyone to attend. There will be live entertainment by the local group Insufficient Funds, a dance floor, a rock-climbing wall, giveaways, bouncers, tattoos, face-painting and plenty more.
The two primary purposes of the Buddy Walk are to support those with Down syndrome and raise funds that will go to the National Down Syndrome Guild.
Members of PDSG are putting out what they call "parent packs," which are informational booklets letting people know what to expect and help them understand that things aren't as bad as they may seem.
"There are many people at Amarillo College today that are going to be faced with challenges when they have children," said Jeff Medford, treasurer of the PDSG.
One in every 800 children is born with Down syndrome.
There is nothing to prevent it. There is no cure. Gender, race or income level are not issues.
Down syndrome is a genetic condition in which instead of the usual 46 chromosomes, a child is born with 47.
More than 350,000 people have been diagnosed in the United States alone.
"We all know someone with Down syndrome somehow," said Vicki Cabrera, president and founder of PDSG. They go to the same schools, participate in local activities and most work as adults.
"People with Down syndrome are productive members of the community," Cabrera said.
"You'll never know anyone that's nicer."
Medford and Cabrera both have children with Down syndrome, Erin and Phillip. Both parents said they were shocked when they heard the news. Not having any knowledge on the subject, they searched for support groups to fully understand what was happening.
"We had a terrible experience in the hospital," Medford said.
"We were extremely depressed. We didn't know much about Down syndrome. All we could think about were the bad things.
"Now, almost three years later, my daughter Erin is the most wonderful part of our family. Coming up on three years old, she's counting, she's always smiling and brings joy everywhere."
"It was good to get out last year and meet the people and really feel like a part of the community," said Lacie Fincher, a medical data specialist graduate.
"Nobody comes out to the Buddy Walk and doesn't have a good time," Medford said.
Last year's turnout had 500 people on a rainy day. This year the sponsors hope to double that.
For more information, call 468-9088 or go to www.PanhandleDSG.org