Earl Hyman of New Orleans showed his support for his granddaughters with Down syndrome Sunday at Chipp-A-Waters Park.

Hyman took part in the Buddy Walk, organized by the Central Michigan Down Syndrome Society, to raise awareness for Down syndrome.

Hyman holds the event in high regard because some of his granddaughters have Down syndrome and his son, Joby Hyman, is one of the founders of the Central Michigan Down Syndrome Society.

“I love it, support it and proud of what (Joby and his wife Sheryl) have done,” Earl said.

The Buddy Walk had a turnout of 181 pre-registered walkers and about 250 people overall. Music, food, balloons, friends and families flooded the pavilion in hopes to bring awareness.

The Buddy Walk took participants around the Chipp-A-Waters Park, down High Street and back to their starting point, where they met new people and shared experiences.

For the second year in a row, Roxann Davis of St. Louis came to the walk to help bring awareness for her daughter, Alycen, who is one of her 15 children and is affected with Down syndrome. Davis said not only does the walk mean something for her, but it means something for Alycen.

“(It’s) everybody coming together to support her and it’s awesome to watch people say ‘Yeah, I’ll do it’,” Davis said.

‘A great, great organization’

Amanda Wilson of Mount Pleasant not only came to the Buddy Walk for the second time, but also attended one in Lansing and one in Grand Rapids. The Buddy Walk is a way to bring awareness to the community and to bring awareness of how great the kids are, Wilson said.

“It is a great, great, organization,” she said.

Juli Strong was supporting Team Maddie, a girl with Down syndrome. This was Strong’s first year at the Mount Pleasant Buddy Walk, but has participated in the Grand Rapids Buddy Walk. She said this walk was more family-oriented because there are more kids involved instead of adults.

She was at the walk to educate the public and show them they can get involved.

Also at the Buddy Walk were members of the Mount Pleasant Fire Department and Dave Sabuda, Mount Pleasant Police Department information officer.

The police department wanted to show its face outside the job and to show public safety in the community, Sabuda said. Officers thought this would be a great way to do it.

The exact amount of money raised was not known, but at the start of the event, at least $400 was raised, Davis said.

E-mail the author: Kelli Ameling