People of all walks of life, including Darth Vader, gathered at the Champaign County Fairgrounds on Saturday for the Sixth Annual Buddy Walk hosted by the Champaign County Down Syndrome Network.
The goal was to raise awareness of Down syndrome in the community since October marks Down Syndrome Awareness Month. The Buddy Walk program started in 1995 and since then has had over 2.5 million participants, according to Champaign County Buddy Walk’s website.
This event raised over $17,000 for the Champaign County Down Syndrome Network, according to their website Saturday evening.
“It’s just a really fun event where kids can go and have fun and basically see kids with Down syndrome doing anything any other kid is doing,” said Wendy Barker, vice president of the Champaign County Down Syndrome Network. “(It is also to) spread the idea of inclusion and acceptance,”
This year marks Barker’s seventh Buddy Walk. She has participated in one event down in Florida, but the other six have been held in Urbana. Down syndrome has affected Barker significantly in her personal life.
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“My son has Down syndrome, so this is a very important event because it’s a big awareness to just have people come out and celebrate my son,” Barker said. “Even though he has differences, he’s still so much like any other kid, and it’s just a great way for families and friends to come together.”
Erich O’Donnell, Champaign resident and walk participant, came to support a friend’s son.
“One of my best friends has a son who has Down syndrome,” O’Donnell said. “Just being really close to him, I want to be able to support them and everything the Down Syndrome Network represents.”
The event provided entertainment for all ages, specifically children. It featured a petting zoo, a monster truck and inflatables. A group of participants dressed as Darth Vader and storm troopers just for fun.
Participants are not the only ones who return to this annual event. Jayvee Zarraga, a member of Alpha Phi Omega at Parkland College and a walk volunteer, has attended this event multiple times for his service fraternity.
“Helping out is from your heart, and that’s why we’re doing this,” Zarraga said. “It’s for a good cause, and that’s the best thing about it.”
