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.

The Buddy Walk will start at 1 p.m., with registration starting at 11 a.m.

Last year was the first year for the Buddy Walk, and it had a bigger turn out then what was expected.

“We were expecting 60 or 70 (people) but we had over 250 show up.” said Sheryl Hyman of the Central Michigan Down Syndrome Society.

She said Mount Pleasant is not very aware of Down syndrome or support groups, and she hopes to get more people involved this year.

“(It is) to make people aware that our children are productive members of society,” she said. “Our children do grow up and hold jobs and live fairly independently.”

The Buddy Walk consists of a walk that is a little less than a mile long. After the walk is done, participants come to park and have a picnic which includes a DJ and inflatable’s for the kids.

Money raised from this event goes to the Central Michigan Down Syndrome Society, a support group that Sheryl and Joby Hyman started in Mount Pleasant after having their daughter, Elizabeth, who has Down syndrome.

With the money raised, they put together parent packs and gave them to new parents in the group, which includes educational material on Down syndrome. The group also gets to travel to events and conferences about Down syndrome with the money raised.

The Buddy Walk means a lot to the Hyman family. After they had Elizabeth, they adopted a little girl, Lily, who also has Down syndrome. Sheryl Hyman said the walk is a celebration of her kids.

Barb Grajek, a physical therapist for the Early On program, attended the Buddy Walk last year. She feels the walk brings a lot of awareness to Down syndrome because it shows what Down syndrome really is.

“It breaks down stereotypes,” Grajek said.

Carrie Olson, a Central Michigan University alumna and a mother of three children — including an 11-year-old with Down syndrome — also attended the event last year. Olson is also a member of the Central Michigan Down Syndrome Society and a speech therapist for the Early On program. She said the walk is very helpful.

“(The walk) helps parents network,” Olson said. “You meet a variety of people.”

The park is located at 1403 W. High St.

For more information on The Buddy Walk and Central Michigan Down Syndrome Society, visit centralmichigandss.org.