Willamette Valley Down Syndrome Association

​Buddy Walk 

The Buddy Walk was established in 1995 by the National Down Syndrome Society to promote awareness and inclusion for people with Down syndrome and to raise money to further its mission.  Whether you have Down syndrome, know someone who does, or you just want to show your support ~ you can be a buddy!  

The WVDSA has organized local Buddy Walks held in Salem, Oregon for many years.  The first WVDSA Buddy Walk was held at the state capitol building in 1999.  For many years thereafter, the WVDSA Buddy Walk was held at Riverfront Park in downtown Salem.  You can see many pictures of the event in the Photo Galleries within this website; however, there are no current plans to hold a Buddy Walk in 2019.  If you have some organization skills and the desire to help out, please contact Patie Taylor to express your interest in volunteering as the Buddy Walk Chair.  We have experience and some corporate memory to help you get things going!