Down Syndrome Coalition Buddy Walk draws more walkers, funds this year

A short walk for a long-term goal – creating greater acceptance and understanding for those with different needs in our community. That’s one of the major purposes behind the Down Syndrome Coalition of El Paso’s yearly Buddy Walk.

“This is remarkable this year,” said Jim Heiney, with the DSCEP Buddy Walk committee. “Attendance has just grown. We started out six years ago at the first one maybe 300-400 people. We’re approaching maybe 1,200 people this year. Our pre-registration actually, we ran out of the shirts that we had ordered and we’re taking people’s names and phone numbers and we’re ordering more shirts.”

The response has grown each year, both in number of walkers and the money raised.

“Last year total, the Buddy Walk raised about $18,000,” Heiney said. “This year, as of when pre-registration ended yesterday at noon, we were already at $29,000.”

And all of that will be going to some very good causes for those with disabilities.

“Three organizations benefit from the walk,” Hieney said. “The Down Syndrome Coalition for El Paso and the national Down Syndrome Society. And then also the El Paso Community College Buddy Walk Scholarship. It’s a scholarship for students with disabilities.”

To find out more about the Down Syndrome Coalition, you can visit their website here: http://www.dscep.org/