Due to his heart condition, David Rose is unable to go out as often as he’d like. However, the Bakersfield Buddy Walk is a perfect opportunity for David to see his friends, said his parents Cathy and Riley Rose.
The Buddy Walk promotes Down syndrome awareness and acceptance, according to Tracy Brown, the walk’s organizer. The event began nationally in 1995 by the National Down Syndrome Society. Bakersfield saw its first Buddy Walk in 2002 when Brown was unable to travel with her five-year-old son to a Buddy Walk out of state. At that point she began organizing a walk locally, with the help of friends and family. With the support of the National Down Syndrome Society and sponsored by several local organizations, such as the Bakersfield Rotary Clubs, the walk locally is now in its sixth year. Nationally 270 walks are held annually across the country and a few abroad.
The walk consists of four laps, this year around the Golden Valley High School’s football track equaling a mile in distance.
The event draws around 450 people and raises about $10,000. Some of the participants enjoying the music, games and food were Smokey the Bear, Superman and Scruff McGruff the crime dog. Several local businesses also showcased their participation in supporting the special needs community.
The money raised to participate in the walk benefits families with Down syndrome locally and nationally. Currently the organization is in the process of putting a teacher grant together to incorporate special needs students into regular classrooms and raising awareness and acceptance at an early age among Down syndrome students and their peers.
Some of the money raised last year went to a local family whose Down syndrome child was suffering with leukemia. A care package was made for the child and support was provided for the family.
According to the National Down Syndrome Society’s website, Down syndrome is a genetic condition which occurs when a person has three instead of two copies of the 21st chromosome, resulting in cognitive delays and a high risk of numerous health problems.