Benefit walk set Sept. 27

I want to help make you aware of a great event that our community has been asked to host on Saturday, Sept. 27 at the Jay County Fairgrounds. We will be celebrating the fourth annual Northeast Indiana Buddy Walk. The Buddy Walk was first started 15 years ago to raise awareness of Down Syndrome and to raise money for research, education and community support of our co-workers, friends and family born with this chromisominal difference.

The money we raise will be used in our state by the Indiana Down Society, and our Ohio friends will be raising money for the Ohio Down Society for research, education and service.

Not so long ago when a Down Syndrome baby was born, the normal chain of events was to put the child in an institution. The belief was that the longer the child lived, the more mentally handicapped they would become. Now, thanks to the National Down Society, and organizations like Jay-Randolph Developmental Services with their First Steps programs, we are being educated and know that with love, patience and education we can be empowered to help our children and adults become self-sufficient, hard-working, and always-loving members of our community.

Someone once told me that Down Syndrome is like having a computer without a printer; all the knowledge goes in and is stored until someone takes the time to help hook up the printer and put all that stored knowledge to work.

As parents of five children we have learned first-hand the truth of that statement. What a joy being a parent can be. Even the smallest achievements of our children always make us proud. The things we took for granted with our first four children are sometimes hurdles for our youngest son, but every time he clears a new hurdle the joy is contagious to anyone is involved.

Cory, our youngest, was blessed by God with good health. We all know that is a challenge to keep all children healthy. The average Down child is born with one or more health problems, such as heart, bowel, hearing and vision problems. All of these can set back a child, making it harder for them to retain what they have learned and to build on that knowledge (or to unhook the printer). With continued education in nutrition and physical fitness, the printer will be hooked up again and may not become unhooked as often.

Research has helped open a new world for the Down community, and those of us who were not born with Down. The rate of tumors is considerably lower for those with Down Syndrome, and the National Down Society is involved in research to find out why and help the rest of us gain from that information. Most of us know someone who has cancerous tumors. Wouldn’t it be great to help end this for all of us? Your support could make this happen.

Look into your heart, make a difference, and come walk with us. If you can’t walk, sponsor someone who can. Mark this day on your calendar — Sept. 27 — at the Jay County Fairgrounds. The walk will be followed by a celebration — “Special Day for Special People.” This celebration will be sponsored by the Jay County Optimist Clubs. For more information, call me at (260) 726-7344.

Don’t be left out. Help make our community proud.

Thank you.

Beth Le Master

Portland[[In-content Ad]]