Buddy Walk will raise money for Down syndrome

Area residents invited to join ‘Shane and Wyatt’s Team’

Courtesy of the National Down Syndrome Society

By KAREN CIMMS
kcimms@tnonline.com
The Waksmunski family of Mahoning Township, including 3-year-old son Jesse and 6-month-old twins Shane and Wyatt, who both have Down syndrome, will be joining hundreds of thousands of individuals across the country in the annual  National Down Syndrome Society Buddy Walk to raise awareness of Down syndrome and raise money to support local programs and services and national education, research and advocacy efforts.
Everyone is welcome to join in the Buddy Walk, and if they wish, to join Shane and Wyatt’s Team.
The Lehigh Valley Buddy Walk will run from 2 until 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 25 at Valley Preferred Cycling Center/Rodale Fitness Park at 1151 Mosser Road in Breinigsville. The actual walk will take place at 2 p.m. There will be refreshments, music, vendors, advocacy groups and activities throughout the day.

Twins Wyatt and Shane Waksmunski were born on March 6. Both boys were diagnosed with Down syndrome. (Photo by Bob Ford/Times News)

Those who can’t attend, but who would like to donate online, can go to “Shane and Wyatt’s Journey With Down Syndrome” on Facebook, by becoming a member of the page and then clicking on “Events,” and then following the directions there; or send a check to Eric Waksmunski, P.O. Box 214, Lehighton, PA 18235. Make the check out to Eastern PA Down Syndrome Center.
To register online to walk or to donate online, you can log on to: https://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=427266&supId=295532348, and follow the directions to join Shane and Wyatt’s Team; or you can also contact Waksmunski directly at ericwaxy@ptd.net.
You can also download a donation form by clicking here.
The Waksmunskis have set a fundraising goal of $5,000 for the Buddy Walk, and have already raised $800.
The Buddy Walk was established by the National Down Syndrome Society in 1995 to celebrate Down syndrome Awareness Month in October. Walks occur from September through November, and have grown to over 280 Buddy Walks this year in the United States and around the world. Over 2,500,000 people have participated since its inception.
Last year, over $10 million was raised at the national level.
For more information on the National Down Syndrome Society Buddy Walk, ways to get involved and more, visit www.buddywalk.org.