Down syndrome walk in Boardman to raise funds, awareness

BOARDMAN — Area residents are invited to grab a buddy and participate in the Down Syndrome Association of the Valley’s fund-raising walk Aug. 16.

The Buddy Walk, as it’s called, is a chance to promote awareness of Down syndrome — the most common chromosomal birth defect — in the community, said Stephanie Champlin, event organizer and board member of the association.

The half-mile course will start at 10 a.m. at the Boardman Target, circle the Shops at Boardman Park and conclude in the southwest corner parking lot, where food, games and prizes will await participants. People may do more than one lap if they like.

The walk will be led by Chris Burke, an actor who has Down syndrome and has played “Corky” on the television show “Life Goes On” and Taylor on “Touched by an Angel.”

The local group is an affiliate of the national Down Syndrome Society, which started the Buddy Walk in the mid-1990’s. Now nearly 300 nationwide affiliates host a walk each year, Champlin said.

“The national society started it and used the term ‘buddy’ as a positive descriptive word applied to someone with Down syndrome,” said Kelly Donadio, co-founder of the association.

The Down Syndrome Association of the Valley was created a little more than one year ago and has more than 100 families in five counties.

Read the full story Monday in The Vindicator and on Vindy.com.