URBANA — Join more than a thousand walkers this Saturday at the fifth annual Buddy Walk, a fundraiser for the Champaign County Down Syndrome Network. The event will take place at the Champaign County Fairgrounds.

Ellen Lindsey, Uni High's Student Services Office secretary/registrar, is president of the Champaign DSN. This will be her fourth Buddy Walk, and she is "really wanting this year's Buddy Walk to be the best so far."

This will also be the fourth walk of Lindsey's son, Joey, who recently turned 5. Joey's birth catalyzed Lindsey's involvement in Down syndrome activism.

"Before I had Joey, I knew there was something called Down syndrome but didn't know that much about it," says Lindsey, who recently gave a presentation about the disorder to students at the U of I.

"He has brought out the best in me. I can actually talk in front of a group and be confident where I couldn't before. He's given me a purpose to work for and something to donate my extra time to — and some time that I don't have, but they get it."

Registration starts at 9:30 a.m., with the one-mile walk beginning at noon. The registration is free, although no longer open online, and donations are greatly appreciated. Joey's fundraising team, Joey's Jesters, has already raised $630. The goal of the event is to raise $20,000 and have more than 1,000 walkers participate.

In addition to the walking course, other activities will include carnival games, a "Raminator" monster truck, inflatable bounce houses, displays of construction equipment, and activities for children that include a mini-golf course, face-painting, and a supervised toddler play area. Live music will feature Leonardo, a children’s music performer.

A raffle prize will follow, and tickets cost $1 each or six for $5. Winners receive one of eight prize baskets. The money raised will go toward Down syndrome children and their families here in Champaign County.

The walk also aims to raise awareness about Down syndrome, a genetic disorder caused when a baby is born with an extra chromosome, and to celebrate the abilities of those who live with it.

A big part of the Buddy Walk is "the inclusion of our young children and adults with Down syndrome … in different activities and respecting them as human beings and respecting what they can do," Lindsey says. "We're all more alike than we are different."

Buddy Walk Schedule of Events

• 9:30–11:30 a.m. — Registration & Carnival Games
• 10-11:30 a.m. — Live Performances
• 11:30-11:45 a.m. — Welcome Remarks
• 11:45-noon — Line up for Walk route
• noon-12:30 p.m. — Begin Walk
• 12:45-1:15 p.m. — Performance by Leonardo
• 1:15-2 p.m. — Drawing for Raffle Prizes