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"Last year we had about 220 people participating and we were only expecting about 100," remembered Susan Lott, public awareness coâ€"ordinator for the Waterloo Regional Down Syndrome Society. "We have no idea what to expect for this year but hopefully it will be a simâ€" ilar if not greater turnout. The biggest thing for us is still public awareness." Lott explained, this year‘s Buddy Walk will include optional fundraising for regâ€" istered participants in the event. These unwilling to raise funds are still encourâ€" aged to join the walk, as the ultimate goal is to raise awareness of Down‘s synâ€" drome in the community in a manner that‘s fun for the whole family. n the heels of a sucâ€" Ocessfu] event iast year, the Waterloo Regional Down Syndrome Society is optimistic that there will be great interest in their second annual Buddy Walk, which will take place Nov. 2, at the Waterloo Memorial Recreâ€" ation Complex. First popularized in the U.S., the Buddy Walk was developed by the National Down Syndrome Society to celebrate October, national Down‘s Syndrome Awareâ€" ness Month and to raise awareness about the disorâ€" der. The walks bring together people with Down‘s synâ€" drome and their invited "buddies" â€" everyone from friends, family members, teachers, politicians, and coâ€" workers â€" to promote acceptance and inclusion of people with Down‘s synâ€" drome and to raise funds for education, research, and advocacy programs. Down Syndrome Society hosts Buddy Walk to raise awareness By VisH KHanNa For The Chronicle "We‘re going to have clowns there doing face painting and balloon aniâ€" mals for the kids, while the parents are registering and things like that," Lott said in describing the day‘s schedâ€" ule. "Everybody needs to regâ€" ister whether they‘ve collectâ€" ed pledges or not so we can keep track of numbers. At 2 p.m. we‘ll have speakers, including the coâ€"chairs of our organization as well as some young teens with Down‘s syndrome who will also say a few words. Then we‘ll go out for a walk that‘s about 2.5 miles; and then we‘ll come back and have some social time with a pupâ€" pet show for the kids." Beyond raising funds for further research, one of the primary goals of the Buddy Walk is to contribute to the normalization of those afflicted with Down synâ€" drome for those unfamiliar with the disorder. Lott‘s twoâ€" Kâ€"W Extendâ€"Aâ€"Family worker Brandon Swing, twoâ€"year old Evan Lott, and his eightâ€"year old brother Aaron, will all be participating in the "Buddy Walk" in Waterloo Nov. 2. LIFESTYLE At the Waterioo Inn 475 King St N yearâ€"old son Evan suffers from the condition and she believes it is very important for others suffering with Down syndrome to make prominent public appearâ€" ances to demonstrate their ability to interact in social situations and positively alter misconceptions about the effects of the condition. "The misconceptions would be that our kids can‘t do certain things," she said. "Our kids can do everything that other kids can do, it just might take them a bit longer to learn to do some of them. I don‘t think that people realâ€" ize that it‘s a genetic condiâ€" tion and I think that some people are afraid of it because it‘s unknown; there‘s a lot of ignorance out there about what Down Syndrome Lott‘s nephew, Brandon Swing, works for Kâ€"W Extendâ€"Aâ€"Family and spends a great deal of time with Our Private Dining Room is getting quite a reputation as a superh choice Enjoy our seasonal harvest fare. with wine patrings to match every course Our ‘Private‘ Secret Is Out. for receptions. meetings and special occasieons Fall Harvest Table D‘ hote. really high functioning and doing réally wek**~*‘ ht "He likes books and he likes to read, and he reacts to differents ways I read to him; he‘ll laugh and I‘ll know he‘s understanding it and not just sitting there," Swing said. "We‘ll build things and he‘ll love to knock it down. He doesn‘t speak, so he‘s learnâ€" ing signs right now and we incorporating his toys into that." "Even when he‘s playing, we try to incorporate learnâ€" ing into it," Lott added. "Just basic concepts like ‘in,‘ ‘out," ‘down,‘ ‘up ‘â€" things like that. Evan doesn‘t have any words yet but he will and he does a lot of signs now. He seems quite bright and grasps things quickly and the people at the Rotary Centre (KidsAbility) have told us he‘s Evan, helping the young boy develop his learning abilities. Regardless of Evan‘s indi Continued on page 13 MRUSHE& October 24th and 25th The residents of Waterloo Heights choose a charity each year to raise funds for through monthly fundâ€" raising programs. During 2003 they‘re raising money for the Canadian National Institute for the Blind. The talents shared by the residents are sure to enlighten, and an array of light refreshments will round out the evening program. There is no admission charge, but a donation at the door would be appreciated. Everyone is welcome. Pies are to arrive by 9 a.m. and the judging will start at 10 a.m. There are great prizes to be won. â€" For an entry form or further information, visit the Courtesy Counter at Zehrs, Highland Hills Mall, or contact the Children‘s Wish Foundation at 742â€"0637. Homer Watson House & Gallery will be hosting its annual Halloween Family Fun Day, Oct. 26 from 1â€"4 p.m. Theré will be spooky family fun including: pumpâ€" kin carving, mask making, a haunted house, ghost stoâ€" ries and much more Admission is $5 per family Call 748â€"4377 to register For further information please call Kate Macpher son, development officer for the Homer Watson House and Gallery, at 748â€"4377 The evening will feature a variety of performances by the residents including magic, piano solos, poetry, jokes, and more. Bake your favourite apple pie and have it judged by a panel of experts. s â€" The Children‘s Wish Foundation is holding their 10th Annual Apple Pie Baking Contest, Oct. 25 at the Highland Hill Zehrs, located at 875 Highland Rd., W, in Kitchener. After the judging, all donated pies will be cut and sold, with the proceeds being donated to the local subâ€"chapter of the Children‘s Wish Foundation. â€" Trillium Retirement Apartments will be holding a "Variety Night," at 7:30 p.m. tonight, at Waterloo Heights Retirement Apartments, located at170 Erb St. W. Waterloo. ~ Waterloo Heights hosts evening of entertainment Gallery scares up annual Halloween Family Day Apple pie contest helps local children‘s charity ALL 884â€"0220 ror Reservarions