What is a Buddy Walk Team?

A group (any size) willing to walk to promote awareness, acceptance of & advocacy for those with Down syndrome, their families, professionals & community. The team raises funds to support PADS programs & the Adult Down Syndrome Clinic at UAB through the John Mark Stallings Endowed Support Fund.

What is a Buddy Walk Team?

A Team is Unifying - By recruiting and gathering walkers and donors to celebrate and support your honoree, you are bring together many willing to stand unified for a person & a cause.

A Team is Inspiring - Teams are encouraged to carry signs or banners with their group name on them & a picture of the individual with Down syndrome they are honoring. The size of the team does not matter; its significance is in the demonstration of love, dedication & devotion that is being displayed for the individual with Down syndrome being honored.

A Team Makes a Difference - Team members help spread the message of awareness, acceptance & advocacy for all individuals, of all ages with Down syndrome on the day of the Buddy Walk & for many months, if not years to come.

A Team Advances Action - Teams can become major fundraising giants when they supplement registrations with personal or solicited donations & when Team members take it upon themselves to reach out to their circle of contacts to walk or contribute thus broadening participation & escalating funds raised.

How to Form a Team? (In 10 Easy Steps!)

1. Name our Team - clever phrase using your honoree's name.

2. Decide:
A. If you want to collect registration forms (your team members may also sign up online at downsyndromealabama.org OR
B. If you want to create a personal fundraising page on firstgiving.com.

3. Create an invitation (mailing) list

4. Compose and Send a personalized letter to your list to invite as many walkers & donors as possible.

5. Recruit Team Members and donors with a follow up note or a phone call.

6. Collect registration forms, fees and donations from your Team members by October 9th.

7. Turn in the registration forms, fees and donations you've collected on October 9th at Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church - and pick up your T-shirts. Your Buddy Walk Team are those who respond to your invitation by registering to walk or those who send a donation.

8. Distribute t-shirts to your team members & tell your team to meet you at the Team Check-in sign at Regions Park.

9. Enjoy! Have a wonderful, inspirational and memorable day at the 11th Annual Buddy Walk on Oct 17th!

10. Thank your team participants and donors.

Letter Campaign: (Easy Steps for Team Fundraisers)

One of the most effective (& easiest) ways to raise money for the Buddy Walk is to launch a letter writing campaign. You can reach many contacts by simply drafting a personalized letter to explain why you, your company, &/or family are participating in the Buddy Walk. This is done from the comfort of your home & it can be your ticket to fund raising success! Some team coordinators write more than one version of a letter to address different audiences (i.e. family, work place, grandparent contacts).

Step 1: Develop Your Mailing List - Determine who you will send it to.

  • Start with lists you already have - Address Book, Rolodex, Holiday Card List, Team/League Rosters, Church/Club Directories, Vendors, E-mail List
  • Don’t forget people from your past - Classmates, Roommates, Teachers, Neighbors, Co-workers, Teammates, Fraternal/Alumni Groups
  • Then add: -Businesses You Frequent, Colleagues, Families of Your Child’s current & past Schoolmates

Step 2: Compose Your Letter - Here are a few tips:

  • Include your fund-raising goal.
  •  Mark the Oct 9th deadline for registrations/donations (in order to be counted toward the overall Team total)
  • Speak from the heart & tell people why awareness & acceptance of & advocacy for children & adults with Down syndrome is important to you. Share the hope that research & community support brings to everyone associated with Down syndrome. Tell of the comfort that the establishment of the Adult Down Syndrome Clinic gives to the future.
  • Note that all donations are tax deductible as allowed by law & that checks should be made out to PADS or Parent Advocates Down Syndrome.
  • Give the reader a peak into your honoree’s life by sharing their achievements and telling of their activities and interests. Express your commitment to individuals with Down syndrome and tell why PADS is worthy of time and financial support.
  • Find a photo of your honoree. If you have the capability, insert the picture into the body of your letter on a computer or include a printed picture within the letter if you’d prefer.
  • Remember you can have 2 or 3 different versions of the letter drafted to send to different contacts.
  • Sample Letters re available online at downsyndromealabama.org.
  • Enclose a self addressed envelope with each letter (stamped if possible).

Step 3: Mail (email) your Letters

Ideally, your letters should go out about four weeks before the Buddy Walk – although successful results have been achieved “in a pinch”. Team coordinators have also been successful with e-mail blasts or handouts. Spontaneous invitations are fun and surprising when someone you meet shows interest in the Buddy Walk or you bump into an old acquaintance who is ready to jump on board.

Follow up

Be Brave – Asking someone to participate or contribute can feel risky – BUT…sharing your love and commitment to an individual with Down syndrome can be educational, inspiring and motivating to others.

Boldly invite those on your list and try not to be bashful with those you spontaneously meet who show interest in the Buddy Walk. Sharing promotes awareness about Down syndrome and the Buddy Walk, encourages acceptance & will make your advocacy known.

HOWEVER - Your risk may cultivate a fellow champion through this experience.

Step 4: Write Thank You Notes

Send thank you notes to all your supporters announcing your success. Acknowledging your contributors’ generosity will encourage their future support! For a special touch include a picture from of the event – they are yearlong keepsakes.

Register your Team Now