Best Buddies walk for friendship, support

Jade Lewis, Staff Reporter

Tomorrow Best Buddies are participating in the Best Buddies Friendship Walk. Other Best Buddies chapters in Illinois will be there to help support and fund individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, also known as IDD.

This is the number one walk in the country for raising awareness for IDD. Over 46 cities have participated in this walk.

There is no sign up to attend this event. People can simply go to Brookfield Zoo and sign in as Elk Grove Best Buddies. Registration is at 8 a.m., and the walk begins at 9:30 am.

As of May 1, the Best Buddies Friendship Walk in Chicago has raised $70,948.31. Their goal is to reach $120,000.

Sponsor Marla Carson said, “If you want to have fun, then come help and walk for a great cause.”

Best Buddies International is the world’s largest organization dedicated to ending the social, physical and economic isolation of the 200 million people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Their programs help people with IDD form meaningful friendships with their peers, secure successful jobs, live independently, improve public speaking, self-advocacy and communication skills, and feel valued by society.

The Best Buddies mission is to help build friendships between people with IDD. It helps them become more secure.