3, 2, 1, Go!

The Down Syndrome Association of Wisconsin is moving full speed ahead towards its 16th annual Down Syndrome Awareness Walk to be hosted next Saturday, Sept. 28, at Capital Credit Union Park.

The event will include not only a walk around the park, but also a variety of activities and resources for families to enjoy.

“It’s very family-friendly,” said Keri Friebel, outreach and event coordinator for the Down Syndrome Association of Wisconsin. “Although it’s an awareness walk, we call it like our family fun day as well. So we will have opportunities for families to join us in bouncy houses, we’ll have face painting and balloon artists, we’ll have yard games, there will be a race car driver there with his stock car on display and then we’ll have an area for resources and local businesses. We have them come together and they provide an area where families with questions can go and learn about new organizations.”

Some of the resources available for families to explore include Buddy Up Tennis, Miracle League, Sign-N-Play classes, Nights Out, self-advocate events, GRIT920 workout classes, Dental Experience with NWTC dental students and more.

In addition to providing opportunities to find resources, the event serves as the primary fundraiser for the Down Syndrome Association of Wisconsin and funds raised at the walk will allow for even more resources to be provided.

“Last year we had over 800 people attend our walk,” she said. “This year, we’re already at that number for people that are signed up. We have raffle baskets, too, that we’ll be doing during the walk. This is our largest fundraiser, so all of the money that we earn through this awareness walk goes back into our organization and then we provide support services, programs and classes for individuals with Down syndrome and related disabilities and their families throughout the year.”

The walk itself, Friebel said, will embrace this year’s race car theme.
“We’ll have race decorations — a bunch of black and white checkered flags — and then all of our signage and decorations will be based off of a race car theme,” she said. “Even at the start of the walk, we’re going to have a green checkered flag and then at the end of the walk, we’ll have people flagging to stop the race.”

Friebel said the theme and accompanying slogan also have a deeper connection to the event.

“The slogan for the walk is ‘Can’t stop us… 3, 2, 1, go!’” she said. “Down syndrome is also known as trisomy 21, or 3-21, so that’s why we created that slogan.”

Before the walk kicks off, individuals with Down syndrome of all ages will have the opportunity to participate in the 21 Showcase.

“We do a red carpet walk where individuals with Down syndrome will line up and they get to walk down the red carpet while we introduce them by name and then parents submit one or two sentences about their child so we can get to know who the individual is,” Friebel said. “We start with the youngest, so typically parents walk their children down when they’re babies… But by the time you get to the older individuals, their personalities really come out when they walk the red carpet. Some people dance, some people put their arms up or hoot and holler and they just soak it all in. They love it and enjoy being in the spotlight in a sense.”

This year, the spotlight will also shine on Steve Pyne, who was selected as the 2024 walk ambassador.

Pyne is 37 years old, lives in his own apartment in Green Bay and has worked at St Norbert College for 12 years as a cafeteria assistant.

Pyne is also an accomplished horseman and competed in 2023 in the Morgan Masterpiece Charity Horse Show as the only individual with Down Syndrome.
In addition to work and horsemanship, Pyne also enjoys riding his bike, cross country and downhill skiing and is a proud uncle.

Friebel said she hopes that those who attend the walk recognize that individuals with Down syndrome are capable of making great achievements.

“We just hope that we can celebrate the potential of individuals with Down syndrome so we can show other people how awesome Down syndrome individuals really are,” she said. “I hope they get to see the potential of individuals with Down syndrome and that it’s not just a disability. They are humans just like you and me and they can achieve anything they want. It may take them a little bit longer, but they can do the same things that typical people can do.”

Learn more about the Down Syndrome Association of Wisconsin and the Down Syndrome Awareness Walk at dsaw.org.