The Down Syndrome Association will host its first Buddy Walk at the Wal-Mart Supercenter in Desloge on Oct. 18. The event begins at 10 a.m. with a picnic. Buddies will line up to walk at 1:15 p.m. in the Wal-Mart parking lot. They’ll walk from there to Desloge Drive and over to McDonald’s. The walk ends at 3 p.m.

“The idea is to create awareness,” said Brianna Shelton, a member of the organizing group. “If we stop traffic, we are creating an awareness of children with Down Syndrome.”

The cost is $10, which includes a Buddy Walk T-shirt, food and drink and games.

For more information, contact Glen LaChance, 573-701-3860, Brandolyn LaChance, 573-366-8483, Brianna Shelton, 573-701-3576 or send an e-mail to mineralareadsa@gmail.com.

The event is being organized by four families with young children who have Down’s. Shelton said they’d like to start a regular support group and would welcome parents and older children with Down’s who might mentor the younger families. The group has met once and calls itself the Mineral Area Down Syndrome Association.

“The money we raise at the Walk will go to the National Association, but most of it will go to help children and families in this area get more education about Down Syndrome,” Shelton explained. “We’d also like to send families to a national conference in St. Louis to find out more.”

The group will meet again at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 14 at the L.I.F.E. Center in Farmington. They hope to set up regular monthly or bi-monthly meetings after that. Their goal is to help parents find resources to learn about Down’s and help children with Down’s become more integrated into society.

Those who take part in the Walk can get a pledge sheet to take pledges or simply make a donation.

 

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