About 2,000 turn out for Buddy Walk

Much of the money raised will go toward funding a new resource center.

BOARDMAN — Brittany Haines and her boyfriend, Andrew Wilde, enjoyed a half-hour walk and didn’t mind thousands of other people who accompanied them.

That’s because this wasn’t just any walk.

The two Youngstown State University students were among an estimated 2,000 people who participated in Saturday’s second annual Buddy Walk of the Valley event in the Shops at Boardman Park on U.S. Route 224. The walk’s purposes were to raise funds and advocate for those who have been diagnosed with Down syndrome as well as to increase awareness of the condition.

Proceeds are to go to the Down Syndrome Association of the Valley, noted Kelly Donadio, president and co-founder. The two-year-old nonprofit association provides resources, advocacy, education, support and opportunities for those with DS and their families, most of whom live in Northeast Ohio and western Pennsylvania.

“People with Down syndrome have the capabilities we have and should be included in everyday life,” said Wilde, who’s majoring in special education.

Both also said they wanted to walk on behalf of Haines’ 3-year-old cousin, Marina Donadio, who has Down syndrome. She is a daughter of Kelly Donadio.

This was the first walk for Haines and Wilde, they added.

Walkers encircled the shopping center’s perimeter, with most wearing light blue T-shirts bearing the event’s logo as well as the name of the teams they represented. Participants broke into roughly 36 teams, such as Lovin’ Lauren, named after 5-year-old Lauren Jones, who has the condition; Movin’ with Marina, in honor of Marina Donadio; and King Track Man, coined after 19-year-old Johnny Prokup, a teen with Down syndrome who was elected earlier this year as Howland High School’s prom king.

Lauren’s mother, Michele Jones, also co-founded DSAV.

Also donning their walking shoes and shirts were 52 employees of the Valley’s four Wal-Mart stores, noted Jeff Miller, a company marketing manager.

Some Wal-Mart employees have a family member, friend or relative with DS, so they wanted to take part in the walk to show support, added Miller, of Greenville, Pa.

“This year, we decided to back this in a big way,” he said of the event.

In addition to support, the four Wal-Mart stores each kicked in $1,000 to go toward DSAV; an extra $2,500 will come from the new Wal-Mart that’s set to open Wednesday in Liberty Township, Miller noted.

The four stores also donated a total of 12 bicycles as well as bottled water and snack foods, he added.

Last year’s walk brought in around $60,000, which far exceeded the goal of $25,000, Donadio recalled. This year’s goal is $40,000, she pointed out.

Between 7 percent and 10 percent of funds raised will go to the National Down Syndrome Society, with the rest staying in the area. Much of the local money will fund the DSAV Center for Success, a facility set to open this October in Boardman that will provide space for activities, support and educational programs for those with DS and their families, Donadio noted.

October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month.

Other DSAV offerings include grants up to $500 for families who are members of the agency; lectures on legal, health-care and educational topics; and prenatal packets for pediatricians and obstetricians in the region, she said.

The Buddy Walk of the Valley event featured games and activities for children, a gift-basket raffle and a Buddy Wall, which was a display of posters and stories detailing the accomplishments of those in the Valley with DS.

Performances were from the South Range High School band as well as cheerleaders from Lisbon and East Palestine high schools.