COLUMBIA, S.C. — Family Connection of South Carolina is celebrating 25 years of Buddy Walk in Columbia. Buddy Walk raises money and honors families with members with Down Syndrome.
"This person came in and said, Hey, we're a buddy. We have Down Syndrome too, and they made me feel hopeful for what was to come at a time where I really did not feel all that hopeful because I was navigating this new diagnosis,” Meredith Felder, ambassador for Buddy Walk.
Meredith Felder was glad that Family Connection was there at the time of her daughter Claire's diagnosis of Down Syndrome shortly after she was born.
“We saw that it was not it was not a bad thing. It was just something we were going to have to navigate. And eventually I just decided that we were going to embrace who Claire was and embrace the diagnosis," said Felder.
Meredith told us that she feels compelled to give back to the organization that was there for her by participating in Sunday's Buddy Walk at Saluda Shoals Park. About 100 buddies, those who have been diagnosed with Down Syndrome, signed up to walk with friends and families. Family Connection of South Carolina's goal is to reach $50,000.
“The money will help support services that Family Connection offers to families across the state, not just in the Midlands, and those services include help with school education plans, navigating the healthcare system, peer-to-peer support, and a variety of trainings and other workshops for families," said Jack Garbinsky, with Family Connection.
The resources they provide are free to families, and currently, there is no waiting list. Family Connection officials say they serve over 6,000 families in the state annually, and they chose the Felder family as this year's Ambassadors.
“Sometimes you feel scared of the unknown, and sometimes you feel like no one else is doing what I'm doing. And so, when you have the support, you can kind of reflect on that and understand that you really aren't alone," said Felder.
As the walk around the track ended, all the buddies who walked at the event were given an award. Claire could be seen smiling ear to ear when she earned hers.
“We are happy to be a part of family connection again. They've done so much for us and say we have just enjoyed giving back on the years that we can. And this has been another exciting year here.”
The fundraiser doesn't end here. Family Connection will keep it going until the end of the month.
