What is the Buddy Walk?
The Northeast Ohio Buddy Walk is DSANEO’s largest fundraiser. This year marks the 25th annual Buddy Walk in our hometown! The event celebrates inclusion and promotes acceptance! The 2025 Northeast Ohio Buddy Walk is taking place on Saturday, October 4th at the Great Lakes Science Center in downtown Cleveland. Free parking is provided for participants at this one-mile walk. The event includes music from Rockability, activities for kids, vendors at the Buddy Gateway, food trucks and more. Each year we welcome over 2,000 participants to this event. We are excited to be hosting this event during Down Syndrome Awareness Month!
What happens at the Buddy Walk?
Are you ready to celebrate? The Northeast Ohio Buddy Walk is a special day for everyone! Opening ceremonies begin at 8:30 am and the walk steps off at 9:00 am. At 10:00 am the Post Buddy Walk Dance Party begins. Be sure to check out all the Buddy Walk activities before and after the walk. The event concludes at 11:00 am but we hope you will continue to enjoy everything that downtown Cleveland has to offer on this special day.
What do the funds from Buddy Walk support?
As the largest DSANEO fundraising event of the year, the Buddy Walk provides about 35% of the resources needed for DSANEO to fulfill its mission throughout the year. With your help, we can continue to provide support, education and advocacy for children and adults with Down syndrome, their families and communities throughout Northeast Ohio.
How can I get a Buddy Walk T-Shirt?
Each year we have fun designing the Buddy Walk t-shirt. We know everyone looks forward to seeing the design and colors. This year’s shirt is OUT OF THIS WORLD! Everyone who registers for the Buddy Walk by August 22nd will guarantee their shirt size. After that, we will do our best! Registration WILL be available the day of the walk and t-shirts will be provided WHILE SUPPLIES LAST. But why wait? Guarantee your shirt by registering at the link below.
Questions? Contact Calli Fenik, Buddy Walk Coordinator, at calli@dsaneo.org
We can’t wait to see you on October 4th!
Click HERE to register or sponsor today.
The Buddy Walk® was created by the National Down Syndrome Society in 1995 to celebrate Down Syndrome Awareness Month in October and to promote the acceptance and inclusion of people with Down syndrome. Since 1995, the Buddy Walk® has become the premier advocacy event for Down syndrome in the United States. It is also the world’s most widely recognized public awareness program for the Down syndrome community.
Since 1995 the walk has grown to over 275 walks, been attended by over 330,000 walkers and raised over $14.4 million towards national advocacy.
The Northeast Ohio Buddy Walk began in 2001 and has continued annually ever since.