Buddy Walk 2011

Drew and I are excited to participate in our fifth Buddy Walk this Saturday morning in honor of our nephew, Vinnie! The Buddy Walk was developed by the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) in 1995 to promote acceptance and awareness of people with Down syndrome. All monies raised will support the Down Syndrome Network of Montgomery County (check out Vinnie's pic on their homepage!), The ARC of Montgomery County, and the NDSS. Please consider donating to this important cause - any amount will help!

To donate, visit our personal fundraising page HERE. Thanks for your support!

Here are some pictures of our lovable, huggable Vinnie at his first five Buddy Walks from 2006 to 2010.

October News

Drew and I are participating in our third Buddy Walk today! If you've been following our blog for awhile, you've probably seen posts about past walks (here, here and here).

The goal of the Buddy Walk is to spread awareness and promote acceptance & inclusion of all people with Down Syndrome, and also to raise funds locally and nationally for education, research and advocacy programs. If you're free today, come out for the festivities - the more the merrier!! It's going to be held at Hadley Park in Potomac from 10am to 2pm. If you can't attend but would like to make a small donation, you can visit our team page or personal fundraising page. All proceeds will benefit the local Down Syndrome Network of Montgomery County and the National Down Syndrome Society. There's a large group coming out to support Team Vinnie today - we can't wait!

In other news, last weekend was our first wedding anniversary! The year just flew by. We celebrated by taking a mini-vacation to South Beach, soaking in the sun, and eating a lot of yummy food. Drew also won the sweetest husband of the year award. He surprised me with a scrapbook containing all of the cards we've ever given each other and tons of ticket stubs/wristbands/programs from all of the concerts and shows we've seen together...he's been secretly saving everything from the last FIVE years. I was floored when I looked through the pages. To think that he took the time to put it together and surprise me...ugh, the tears wouldn't stop flowing. I am married to the most wonderful man in the world. I love him. Ok, I'm done ;)

Stay tuned for more picture posts! Three awesome families (the Owens, Taylors, and Morgans) and two more wedding couples are coming soon!

Buddy Walk 2007

Thank you so much to everyone who supported Team Vinnie at this year's Buddy Walk!! We were able to raise over $3,300 to contribute to the National Down Syndrome Society and the Down Syndrome Network of Montgomery County. We're amazed and humbled by the kindness and generosity of others. We hope that with everyone's support, we can continue to raise awareness about Down Syndrome and help promote the importance of acceptance and inclusion. A special thanks to those who came out to walk with us! Can't wait for next year!! :) Click here to view the slideshow!

Team Vinnie

His mohawk and "Wild Child" t-shirt just kill me! :) -- Photo by Bill LaCosta.
Drew & I are participating in our second Down Syndrome Buddy Walk this October. As some of you know, my nephew Vinnie was born with Down Syndrome last March. He is the SWEETEST baby ever...I love him with every bone in my body. The money we raise will go to the National Down Syndrome Society and the Down Syndrome Network of Montgomery County, and will help support programs for people with Down syndrome in our area. We want Vinnie to have the resources he needs as he get older!

Please consider joining our team and walking with us (it's only a mile), or sponsoring us with a small tax-deductible donation. We would love your support!

Here's a link to the Team Vinnie page:
http://www.gifttool.com/athon/OurTeamPage?ID=1295&AID=98&TID=231

And here's a link to our personal fundraising page:
http://www.gifttool.com/athon/MyFundraisingPage?ID=1295&AID=98&PID=7882

Check out the fun we had at last year's Buddy Walk in Northern Virginia: