PORT OF SPAIN, TRINIDAD – 13 October 2014: The only Buddy Walk® in the Caribbean will take place at Nelson Mandela Park (former King George V Park) in St. Clair, Port of Spain at 2 p.m., on Sunday, October 19, 2014. Approximately 500 people are expected to attend the event, which is one of over 250 walks across the globe to raise awareness and funds for programmes that benefit people with Down syndrome and their families.
Buddy Walk Trinidad and Tobago is organized by the locally-based Down Syndrome Family Network (DSFN) and will feature an awareness walk around Nelson Mandela Park into the Queen’s Park Oval for a festival of family activities, kids’ games and a benefit concert. Artistes by the likes of Shurwayne Winchester, Imij & Company, JJ & Friends, DJ Kern Crosby and more will entertain the crowd until 6 p.m. Nikki Crosby has donated her talent to host the concert.
“By supporting our Buddy Walk, you are supporting the acceptance and inclusion of people with Down syndrome and people of all abilities,” said Glen Niles, Founder and President of Down Syndrome Family Network “At the Buddy Walk, we all walk together.”
Participants of all ages and abilities are welcomed and encouraged to attend. Registration is available at all Kenny Sports Centres and is $60 per person or $50 per person in groups 4 or more. Individuals with disabilities are free! The registration fee includes the walk, t-shirt, benefit concert, complimentary drinks and a chance to win lots of giveaways.
To learn more, visit facebook.com/dsfamilynetwork, call 491-3429 or email info@dsfamilynetwork.com.
A special thanks goes to the sponsors for their support of Buddy Walk Trinidad and Tobago: Blink/bMobile Foundation, KFC, Ministry of People and Social Development, Blue Waters, Sport Company of Trinidad and Tobago, 103FM, CNMG, Zoom Caribbean and SMJaleel.
About Down Syndrome Family Network
The Down Syndrome Family Network is a nonprofit organization based in Trinidad founded in 2011. Its mission is to support loved ones and care-givers of individuals with Down syndrome through advocacy, education and research in order for those individuals to live as independently as possible and become valued members of their community and society. For more information visit www.facebook.com/dsfamilynetwork.
About Down Syndrome
Down syndrome is a naturally occurring chromosomal arrangement that has always been a part of the human condition, being universally present across racial, gender or socio-economic lines, and affecting approximately 1 in 800 live births. All people with Down syndrome will have some degree of learning disability but many will go on to lead full and semi-independent lives. There is estimated to be up to 7 million people who have Down syndrome living worldwide.