We got the call, or rather the email. Buddy Walk video stars!

Several months ago, the National Down Syndrome Society hosted a contest requesting photos of our kids to advertise the 2012 Buddy Walk.  I thought "how fun!", submitted a photo and forgot about it.  Well, last Friday, I received an email.  My photo was chosen to be in the video.  Can you believe it?  Davey and Will are going to be in the Time Square video celebrating the NDSS Buddy Walk.  I am SO excited.  And so proud of my beautiful boys.  I sure hope we can find a way to get to New York to participate in this great event.

Here is a copy of the email we received.

August 3, 2012

Congratulations! The photo you submitted for the 2012 NDSS Times Square Video has been selected!  Your photo was one of the 1,000 photos sent to NDSS for this year's contest and it will appear in this year's video with more than 200 other unique individuals with Down syndrome.

Join us at the crossroads of the world! The National Down Syndrome Society invites you and your family and friends to kick off National Down Syndrome Awareness Month by attending the video presentation and participating in the New York City Buddy Walk® on September 22nd. More than 2,000 people will join together at this event to promote acceptance and inclusion of all people with Down syndrome.

The 2012 NDSS Times Square Video will play in the heart of New York City on the News Corporation Sony screen at One Times Square, located on Broadway between 42nd and 43rd Streets on Saturday, September 22, 2012.  The presentation will begin at 10:00 am and the video will be re-played immediately following the first-run at approximately 10:20 am.  We will gather to watch the video on and around Military Island pedestrian plaza at the intersection of Broadway and 43rd Street in Times Square.  Immediately following the presentation, NDSS will provide transportation from Times Square to the New York City Buddy Walk site at The Great Hill in Central Park. Participants will be directed to the buses by NDSS staff.

In order to secure a seat on a bus you must email nycbuddywalk@ndss.org no later than September 14, 2012.  The subject line of your email should read “Times Square Video Bus Reservation” and your email should include your full name and the number of people in your party.   

For more detailed information about the New York City Buddy Walk and Times Square Video presentation, click here.

For those unable to attend the showing of the 2012 NDSS Times Square Video, we will send you an e-mail when it is available for viewing on the NDSS website. If you would like purchase a DVD copy of the video, fill out the order form online or complete the attached form and return it to NDSS at 666 Broadway, 8^th Floor, New York, NY 10012. Copies of the video will be available after October 31.

We strongly encourage you to showcase your selected photo in our My Great Story public awareness campaign, which seeks to honor and celebrate the amazing stories of the more than 400,000 Americans with Down syndrome.  Visit www.ndss.org/stories to view and vote on existing stories and click on the ‘submit’ bookmark to upload your photo along with a story. 

Please direct all inquires to nycbuddywalk@ndss.org.  We hope to see you on September 22nd!  

Sincerely,

Becky Switalski
National Buddy Walk Director

ABOUT BUDDY WALK

The Buddy Walk® was established in 1995 by the National Down Syndrome Society to  celebrate Down Syndrome Awareness Month in October and to promote acceptance and  inclusion of people with Down syndrome. Today, the Buddy Walk program is supported  nationally by NDSS and organized at the local level by parent support groups, schools and  other organizations and individuals. The Buddy Walk is now in its eighteenth year.  What started in 1995 as 17 walks has grown  to more than 250 walk across the country and around the world.  Last year alone, 285,000  people participated in a Buddy Walk and collectively they raised over $11 million to benefit  local programs and services and NDSS national advocacy initiatives.  The Buddy Walk is a one-mile walk in which anyone can participate without special training.  It is an inspirational and educational event that celebrates the many abilities and  accomplishments of people with Down syndrome. Whether you have Down syndrome,  know someone who does, or just want to show your support, come and join a Buddy Walk  in your local community! Check out last year's video here.

Be gentle.