How better to spend a Sunday than participating in the Auckland Buddy Walk? This is a fantastic annual event organised by the Auckland Down Syndrome Association, which works to celebrate and fundraise for children with Down Syndrome. We were blessed with lovely weather, which made the day all the more enjoyable.
The focus of the day was a 3km fun run/walk through Mt Eden, where the whole Auckland community (including dogs!) could get involved. Some of Sancta Maria College’s Year 13 students volunteered for the event, and helped by setting up and running stalls, acting as walk marshals, and even supervising the bouncy castles. The other activities of the day included a delicious bake sale, Jump Jam and face painting. It was a fantastic opportunity to come together and support those in our community with Down Syndrome.
The teacher coordinator for the Buddy Walk was Ms Price, who said her motivation for this event came from seeing “so many of our students having the chance to go and see the Down Syndrome community in action. I also love that you get a chance to SEE the joy, and not have deficit, disability, tragedy as the only things you think when you hear ‘Down Syndrome’.”
All the Sancta Maria students involved found the Buddy Walk to be a fun and rewarding experience and are looking forward to next year.
Danica Loulie-Wijtenburg
