(Photo submitted) The Northwest Iowa Down Syndrome Society will host its Third Annual Buddy Walk Sunday, Sept. 28 at Call State Park, located just south of Algona off of Hwy 169.

The Northwest Iowa Down Syndrome Society will host its Third Annual Buddy Walk Sunday, Sept. 28 at Call State Park, located just south of Algona off of Hwy 169. Registration and silent auction begins at 1:30 p.m. with the Buddy Walk starting at 2:30 p.m.

An ice cream social, along with a performance by our featured guest, Denise Shipler, follows at 3 p.m.

Registration and the ice cream social take place at Call State Park's log cabin-style lodge; outdoor activities will take place on the lawn just outside of the lodge, and the walk will be on a paved road in front of the lodge.

"We have many activities planned for the entire family, but especially for the kids, including outdoor games, special appearance by a clown, train rides on a kiddie train, balloons, silent auction, and the performance and comments by our featured guest, Denise Shipler," commented Donna Seehusen, board member and treasurer for the NW Iowa Down Syndrome Society.

Shipler is an inspirational speaker and has a Christian music ministry based in Iowa. As a recording artist, she has produced two albums, and has appeared on Variety telethons throughout North America and also in Australia. She has appeared on the Iowa Variety telethon for 20 consecutive years. A native of Burt, Shipler was born without several of her limbs due to a congenital physical condition. She will speak about some of the challenges she has faced throughout her life. Her message is that most have some kind of disability, visible or invisible, and are much more alike than different. The theme of her message is very similar to the theme recently chosen by the National Down Syndrome Congress for its 2008 national awareness campaign titled "We're More Alike than Different."

"The inaugural Buddy Walk for our organization was held in Spencer in October 2006, then in 2007 we moved it to Storm Lake…In our endeavor to reach as many families, friends, co-workers, teachers, medical care providers, and others associated with those touched by Down Syndrome, we rotate the event around northwest Iowa to different communities to give each community a chance to learn about our organization. We are also increasing awareness of Down Syndrome in those communities we visit each year and spreading the message that our children and adults with Down Syndrome are more like us than different -- referencing the just released 'We're More Alike Than Different' national awareness campaign by the National Down Syndrome Congress," said Scott Hallgren, president of the NW Iowa Down Syndrome Society. Hallgren is also the general manager of the Clay County Regional Events Center.

Individual registration is $10 per person and family registration for all members of your immediate family is $30 per person. Team registration for teams up to 10 people is $50. All registration fees include a Buddy Walk t-shirt. To register you may contact Donna Seehusen at (712) 335-3279. Registrations will also be accepted on site.

The proceeds from the Buddy Walk are used to promote education and advocacy for those with Down Syndrome throughout northwest Iowa and nationally. The proceeds also assisted the NW Iowa Down Syndrome Society (NWIDSS) in formalizing their organization as an official 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization registered within the State of Iowa. The NWIDSS donated a portion of our proceeds last year to both the National Down Syndrome Society and the National Down Syndrome Congress for use with their national projects to promote education, research, advocacy, and awareness programs. The NWIDSS also offered a $1,000 scholarship to a family in NW Iowa to attend the 2008 National Down Syndrome Congress national convention held in Boston in July.

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What is the Buddy Walk?

The Buddy Walk was created by the National Down Syndrome Society to promote acceptance and inclusion of individuals with Down Syndrome. When you join the 2008 Buddy Walk, you are part of over 275 Buddy Walk's happening in communities across the country. The Buddy Walk was established by the NDSS in 1995 to celebrate Down Syndrome Awareness Month in October. It's a one mile walk that anyone can participate in without special training. The Buddy Walk has established itself as the premier advocacy event for Down Syndrome. The purpose of the Buddy Walk is two-fold: to promote acceptance and inclusion of people with Down Syndrome and to raise funds for local and national education, research, and advocacy programs. The Walks -- which involve children and adults with Down Syndrome, their families and friends and thousands of local supporters -- spread the message that individuals with Down Syndrome possess a wide range of abilities, are active in the community, and are more like us than different.

For further questions about the 2008 Buddy Walk or the NW Iowa Down Syndrome Society, you may contact Scott Hallgren, president, at 580-6671. All the families involved with our organization are excited to share this day with you--please come and walk with us to raise awareness of those with Down Syndrome and other developmental disabilities, and help us raise the needed dollars to assist us in meeting our goals of educational programming and awareness right here in northwest Iowa.