The Down Syndrome Family Network’s (DSFN) 5K run and Buddy Walk will be held virtually again this year, owing to the covid19 pandemic.
The organisers said the event’s platform will be launched and its website will go live on October 3.
Newsday spoke with the founder and chairman of the network, Fitzherbert Glen Niles, as well as honorary board member and chairman for events and sponsorship Lisa Ghany.
The event has been the network’s major fundraiser over the years. However, hosting it virtually resulted in the usual numbers of participants almost being cut in half, Niles said.
But while last year’s virtual event did not draw as large a participation as an in-person event would, the network hopes this year’s event will attract greater participation and continue the work of advocacy, education and celebration.
Niles told Newsday that holding the event virtually definitely was not the same. Ghany said the virtual platform attracted just over 400 participants.
[caption id="attachment_914732" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Honorary board member of the down Syndrome Family Network and chairman for events and sponsorship Lisa Ghany.[/caption]
“It is about 50 per cent of what our live event would generate,” she said.
Niles said, “Since we started the buddy walk in 2012 my son has been looking forward to it – especially for the afterparty.”
The in-person afterparty would usually have artistes like Nailah Blackman and giveaways by various sponsors. But the ongoing pandemic has halted that.
Many of the event’s participants now have to do the run or walk on their own, which is facilitated by the virtual platform Bafasports.
Niles’s son, Tyrese, a young man with Down Syndrome, did the race virtually last year with four runners. He is once again preparing to do so this year and has been by doing an hour’s spin, four times a week.
Those who participated last year were either runners who still wanted to run and get their medals, or members of the network’s community.
“It was more a community thing. People look forward to that coming together. The entire family will come out to walk for a particular child or adult with Down Syndrome or any other disability.”
Niles said the number of people participating had been growing before it had to be held virtually. At the last in-person event 1,200 people were registered, he added.
“Having it virtually did lessen the impact of seeing 1,200 people walking around King George V Park with a marching band to the front,” he said.
For Niles, the in-person event was an opportunity to build awareness and have a bigger impact on advocacy and the rights of people with disabilities.
“Now it is challenging to find new ways by using social media, interviews and other methods to get that kind of impact,” he said.
The organisers have been trying to push marketing the event more to reach more people and increase participation levels virtually, he said.
[caption id="attachment_914727" align="alignnone" width="884"] Fitzherbert Niles chairman and cofounder of then Down
