Thousands to Gather in Wakefield to Celebrate Down Syndrome
Wakefield
Businesses Supporting 17th Annual Buddy Walk
Burlington,
MA – Amid news that Down
syndrome was ‘silenced’ in a laboratory experiment here in Massachusetts,
thousands will gather on beautiful Lake
Quannapowitt in Wakefield on Sunday, Oct. 13 to celebrate people with Down
syndrome.
The
Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress’ 17th Annual Buddy Walk &
Family Festival is expected to bring together 4,000 people, including
individuals with Down syndrome, family members and friends. The event aims to
raise both awareness about Down syndrome and critical funds to support our
programs and advocacy work.
Find out what's happening in Lynnfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The
Wakefield business community is supporting our efforts:
Two
Wakefield Honey Dew Donut locations (Lowell St. and the new downtown store) are
donating 10 percent of their proceeds to the MDSC on the day of the walk.
Walkers can pick
up “Business Buddy Coupons” at the Registration Booths on walk day. They are
good for select Wakefield business, and courtesy of the Wakefield Area Chamber
of Commerce,
including ten percent off J'Adore Gifts and Jewelry now in a new location near the walk at 332 Main Street Downtown Wakefield, next to Sabatino's Restaurant, ZuZu's and Uncommon Antiques of Wakefield all open on Sunday and E -Gourd pumpkin carving app www.egourd.com.
Find out what's happening in Lynnfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Rachel
Coleman, founder and star of the “Signing Time!” television show is
headlining the event. Fox25 News anchor Heather Hegedus (below) is emceeing for
the second year.
Ayla Brown, Country star and American Idol
semi-finalist
Yeager, world record holding extreme vertical
jumping dog, from Go Team 21
Performance by Wakefield’s Beyond Self Defense’s
Adaptive Self-Defense Class, taught by Sensei Louis DiBicarri
Dance performance by the Boston Ballet Adaptive
Dance Program
Mr. Vic, Popular Kid’s Music Performer
Face Painting, Balloon Artists, and Arts &
Crafts
The public can register at http://www.mdsc.kintera.org/buddywalk2013
REGISTRATION STARTS AT 11am ON THE LAKE DAY OF EVENT
(Extra parking near the train station, or downtown Wakefield Square, Galvin Middle School and walk two blocks to the Upper Common, stores are open)
Directions: Downtown Wakefield is just off Route 128/95 - scenic route take exit 40; or North Ave. exit 39 straight to train depot / west of downtown. Main Street Lynnfield - follow Main Street South past exit 41, it turns into Mount Vernon and you get to downtown that way as well.
This event is sponsored
by Verizon, ITG Canada, Fox25, EchoStor Technologies, Nestle and the Patrick
McLaughlin Memorial Fund, among others.
Families will be attending from throughout the state.
Contact us to be put in touch with a family in your coverage area.
ALL REGISTERED WALKERS GET T SHIRTS!!! and enjoy a beautiful day!
Funds
from the Buddy Walk & Family Festival allow the MDSC to provide a wide
range of support to those directly affected by Down syndrome and advocate for Down syndrome issues on the local and
national level. We support new and
expectant families, educate health care professionals about Down syndrome and
how to deliver a diagnosis, provide social and leadership development for teens
and young adults with Down syndrome, equip educators with best practices and
resources, and create and influence legislation affecting people with Down
syndrome.
YOUR ATTENDANCE AND SUPPORT CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE:
A number of scientific advancements in recent years
have changed the landscape for the Down syndrome community. Most recently, our
community this summer was shaken when a groundbreaking study by the University
of Massachusetts Medical School demonstrated an ability to ‘silence’the
expression of the 3rd copy of the 21st chromosome in a
laboratory.
For our members, these advancements come imbued
sometimes with hope, sometimes with anxiety, and often with both. At the MDSC, we have the history, expertise,
relationships and foresight to make sense of this constantly changing landscape
for our members and the public.
More About
Down Syndrome
Down syndrome occurs when some or all of a person’s cells have an extra full
or partial copy of chromosome 21. This additional genetic material alters the
course of development and causes the characteristics associated with Down
syndrome.It is the most common chromosomal condition - one in every 691
babies is born with Down syndrome. Life expectancy for people with Down
syndrome has increased dramatically in recent decades - from 25 in 1983 to more
than 60 today. People with Down syndrome attend school, work; participate in
decisions that affect them, and contribute to society in many ways.There are
more than 400,000 people living with Down syndrome in the United States.
More About
the MDSC
As we have over the past nearly three decades, the MDSC continues to ensure
that all individuals in Massachusetts with Down syndrome are valued, included,
and given every opportunity to pursue fulfilling lives. In the early years,
parents met in a living room to share information about their children, provide
support for each other and strategize how to educate their families, schools
and communities. More than 28 years later, the MDSC has over 3,000 members, an
energetic Board of Directors, a dynamic management team, and a vision to ensure
that every person with Down syndrome has the opportunity to reach his or her
full potential. Today, the MDSC is on the cutting edge of Down syndrome
advocacy at a time when an innovative, forward-thinking vision is needed.
The
MDSC offers a broad array of programs to serve people with Down syndrome and
their families throughout the state, including: our signature Parent’s
First Call Program, a volunteer, state-wide group of trained
parent mentors available 24/7 that is a national model; two
major annual conferences that draw national and
international experts in their fields; a Buddy
Walk® Program that gives individuals, schools, community groups, and
local businesses an opportunity to get involved in fundraising campaigns and
events year-round; aTeacher
Partnership Network that matches
educators with experience teaching students with Down syndrome with teachers
who have limited or no experience; Self-Advocate
Programs like Advocates in
Motion and our Self-Advocate Advisory Council, which provide opportunities for
teens and adults with Down syndrome while making empowerment a central
component.
For more fun and nonprofit fundraisers, cultural and historic fun for families downtown Wakefield and the Lake Quannapowitt Area provides year round, FOLLOW us on Facebook Wakefield Chamber of Commerce.
Many thanks to Marie Rej, and the state board supporting this worthy cause. Mass Down Syndrome Council is one of many nonprofits on the Wakefield Area Chamber of Commerce that make large impact to the STATE and REGION. For more about or to sign up for free e news at bottom of our homepage or see our listings of over 200 chamber members who give back to this area and region: http://wakefieldchamber.org.
OTHER FAMILY EVENTS: Arts on Albion Oct. 19/20; Spooktacular Oct. 24 Downtown Wakefield near the Lake and Library. Oct. 13 Model Trains at Americal Civic Center and underneath Brothers' Deli (rear) Main Street.
