A few decades ago, a local family who had a child with Down Syndrome might have felt isolated, not knowing other families with the diagnosis, wondering by themselves about the what-ifs and future unknowns.
Since 1991, the Down Syndrome Awareness Group of East Tennessee (DSAG) has brought such families together for friendship, information and inspiration. On Sunday, Nov. 4, at World’s Fair Park, the group will hold its 22nd annual Buddy Walk Knoxville, its signature fundraiser. Sponsors include Knoxville Pediatric Group, Karns Vision Center, Apex Bank and many others.
Executive director Angie Holbert expects about 1,200 people at Sunday’s walk. There will be activities for kids, resources for families, plus a marketplace and notable local food vendors. Every walk participant with Down Syndrome will be called up on stage at the end of the afternoon to receive a Buddy Medal.
Waiting for the medal ceremony at last year’s Buddy Walk to benefit the Down Syndrome Awareness Group of East Tennessee. This year’s walk is Nov. 4.
The not-for-profit, which serves 18 counties, provides a variety of services, including Backpacks for Buddies for new families and care packages for parents dealing with hospital stays. There are group outings and activity scholarships to help families with the costs of swimming or therapeutic riding or stints at camp. There are many social opportunities, including a monthly playgroup, Littles and Lattes, for families who have children six and younger, which meets in Farragut, and a monthly group for dads, which meets at Chick-fil-A in Bearden. (Next meeting Monday, Nov. 5, from 6-7 p.m.).
Holbert’s daughter Morgan, 14, the third of five children, has Down Syndrome, and she has been involved with the group since Morgan was born.
“It’s like the family you never knew you had,” she says of the organization.
Fellow mom Kyle Cook agrees. Her younger daughter, Annie Smith, is a 21-year-old living with Down Syndrome while also attending Powell High School (where she has been a well-known cheerleader).
Cook says the group, including its relatively new robust presence on Facebook, is a wonderful opportunity for parents.
“Locally, it’s a tight-knit community,” Cook says.” When you first find out, you feel so alone, even though you know deep down you aren’t,” Cook says.
Becca and Decker Stone at the 2017 Buddy Walk at World’s Fair Park
Cook is also a neonatal nurse and loves catching up with many of her “babies” each year at the walk and seeing them thrive as they grow.
Holbert says the fundraising arm of the Buddy Walk is important, but there’s something more at work:
“At the end of the day, it’s about people seeing our kiddos the way they see other kids,” Holbert says. “Our kids can and want to be included in everyday life.”
For more information about Buddy Walk, including same-day registration Sunday, visit here. For more information about DSAG of East Tennessee, visit here.