FSCJ women's basketball participates in Jacksonville Down Syndrome Buddy Walk
Florida State College at Jacksonville women's basketball program participated in the 20th Annual Down Syndrome Association of Jacksonville's Buddy Walk on Saturday October 15th.
The team took a break from practice and traveled to the Jacksonville Beach Seawalk Pavilion to volunteer their time with this year's Down Syndrome Buddy Walk. The ladies walked around the event with signs they had made in support of those with down syndrome. They played games, passed the basketball around, took pictures with our jerseys and even danced with many of the participants and families.
FSCJ women's basketball players throughout the event, built connections with and adopted a family to walk the mile walk down the Jacksonville Beach. It allowed them to speak with and get to know the down syndrome participant and their families.
"During the event I learned a lot about down syndrome" said freshman Alyssa Pearson "mainly that we are all more alike than we think. I thought when we got to the event we would be working it, not actually walking around getting to know a family. It was a great experience."
Head Coach Diana Couch has had her programs involved with the Buddy Walk for over a decade and was excited to share this experience with her team at FSCJ and bring support to the local Down Syndrome Association of Jacksonville Buddy Walk. "What a great opportunity to not only support our community, but to also provide an impactful experience to our student-athletes." Said Coach Couch. "Diversity and inclusion are not taglines in our program, it is something we work and strive for our student-athletes to feel and to understand so they can grow as people as well. These young ladies did a tremendous job stepping outside their comfort zones, many of them created new unexpected connections. It was a wonderful event and all we wanted to do as a part of it was put smiles on faces."
The Buddy Walk program was established in 1995 by the National Down Syndrome Society to promote acceptance and inclusion of people with down syndrome. The event is held every year in cities around the country.