October 20th will mark the 30th annual Down Syndrome Walk, a local event held at John Prince Park in Lake Worth every year. Hundreds of families gather to walk around the park in support of individuals with Down Syndrome. Multiple schools, including our own Santaluces Best Buddies, come along to support as well.
What is Down Syndrome?
Down Syndrome is a genetic disorder that occurs when an individual is born with an extra chromosome. Down syndrome can affect a person’s physical and mental capability, ranging from severity. Over 5,000 babies are diagnosed with Down Syndrome every year, and there are countless support resources for them after birth. Individuals with down syndrome may seem different than us, but I’ve learned that at the end of the day, they are no different than you and me.
We asked Sal Mangone, a student at Santaluces, what it was like to live with Down Syndrome.
“We hope no one will judge us just because we look different. But we learned one thing when we were kids, we will never back down. You just need to be yourself, don’t think about what other people think about you.”
Why is the Walk Important?
Every year the walk is held, up to $200,000 is raised. This money is then given to the Gold Coast Down Syndrome Organization, or the GCDSO. The GCDSO is an organization that has been working since 1980 to support and advocate for individuals with Down Syndrome. What began as a small group of families coming together to share their experiences has grown into an organization that reaches countless communities, partnering with Palm Beach County’s own Sheriff’s office and Children’s Services Council.
After reaching out to the Executive Director of the Gold Coast Down Syndrome Organization, she was able to share just how important that walk is, and what opportunities are created with the money raised.
“It [the walk] is the financial foundation of our organization and has allowed us to build an array of programmes that serves individuals with Down Syndrome from birth through adulthood. Most importantly, it showcases the abilities of individuals with Down syndrome to the community at large.”
Truly being there and seeing everyone get together has also impacted me and my own life. I have been a part of Best Buddies, a club that supports inclusion for individuals with IDDs, for nearly 3 years. I have gone to the walk all 3 of these years, and it has truly changed the way I’ve thought about individuals with special needs. I know what it’s like to be bullied for being different, and without realising it, I was participating in the same discrimination I had been a victim to.
Every year when I go to the Down Syndrome Walk, I meet incredible people. I’ve learned what it means to be inclusive, and just how extraordinary individuals with IDDs are. I started going to the walk as a freshman who knew nothing about Down Syndrome, and now I’m a junior with countless friends that have IDDs. I look forward to the walk every year, and I know I will continue to go even long after I graduate high school.
The Down Syndrome Walk is an event that impacts hundreds of people and families, but is also just fun and enjoyable for everyone that attends. I’m sure I can speak for everyone when I say that it is one of the most memorable events of the year.
