Long Island will host its first Buddy Walk for Down Syndrome this Saturday at Eisenhower Park. This local one-mile advocacy walk is intended to promote acceptance and awareness of people with Down syndrome, a genetic disorder caused by the presence of all or part of an extra 21st chromosome.

Buddy Walks were established in 1995 by the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) and, over the past 12 years, the walks have grown from 17 to more than 250 (at least one in each state) nationwide, with 260 worldwide in 2006. Last year, more than 230,000 individuals participated in a Buddy Walk, raising more than $6.5 million to benefit national education, research and advocacy initiatives as well as local programs.

Back in January, Angela (Savoca) and Juan Gomez-Nieto, former local residents and parents of 6-year-old Alexander, a child with Down syndrome, arranged to hold Long Island's first Buddy Walk. Currently, over $22,000 has been raised and almost 700 walkers (37 teams) have registered to participate in the Oct. 27 event.

Angela, who grew up Mineola, and Juan, who grew up in Salisbury and attended Holy Family School and Chaminade High School, formed the team Alexander's Angels. According to Angela, the goal of the walk is to "further awareness of the contributions and needs of individuals with Down syndrome and raise funds for advocacy, service and research organizations."

"Down syndrome is not very well-known outside of those it directly impacts. It is important for people to understand not only the needs and challenges of these individuals but also their contributions and successes," said Angela. "Our a mission is to further awareness of the contributions and needs of individuals with Down syndrome and raise funds for advocacy, service and research organizations."

Saturday's Long Island Buddy Walk for Down Syndrome is a project of Alexander's Angels in collaboration with the Association for Children with Down Syndrome (ACDS), the Down Syndrome Advocacy Foundation (DASF) and the Down Syndrome Research and Treatment Foundation (DSRTF) as well as Briarcliffe College, Long Island University - C.W. Post Campus' School of Education, the Nassau County Department of Mental Health, Chemical Dependency and Developmental Disabilities Services and the State University of New York at Old Westbury School of Education. Major sponsors of this event are Whole Foods Market of Jericho, Accumanage LLC Construction Management of Smithtown, Northville Industries Corp. of Melville and Dormers Only.

Walkers are welcome and those who cannot attend but wish to donate can send checks, payable to DSAF with L. I. Buddy Walk in the memo, to PO Box 486, Jericho, NY 11753. Information is available online at www.alexandersangels.org or by contacting Esther Gomez-Nieto at 361-7263 or EstherGN@optonline.net.

According to Angela, "Support will help all people with Down syndrome step toward a brighter tomorrow ..."