19th Annual Down Syndrome Awareness Walk

1. Register Today!

2. Create a Team~ Create a team of co-workers, friends, and family members. Register online to create a personalized fundraising page with your story and photos, making it easy to grow your team and fundraise. Create a team even if you can't run/walk! If you don't want to create your own team, you can join an existing one!

3. Raise Funds ~ Set individual and team goals! Use the easy online fundraising tools to spread the word, or use the pledge form to easily gather donations offline at family parties, work functions, or kids' sporting events. The Top 5 Fundraising Teams will receive prizes at the walk!

4. Celebrate! ~ Enjoy the day and celebrate the opportunities you have created for individuals with Down syndrome and their families.

6:30am	5K Run, Roll, and Stroll Registration
7:30am	5K Run, Roll, and Stroll
9:30am	Walk Registration & Family Festival Begins
11:00am	Lunch
12:00pm	Pre-Walk Rally & Awards Ceremony
12:15pm	Walk Begins

Our 5K Run, Roll, and Stroll will kick off the day at 7:30am (registration begins at 6:30am). We will have three flights: runners, "rollers" (our friends in wheelchairs), and early-bird strollers who may want to access the zoo prior to opening. The Run and Roll are competitive races where the top female and top male placer in each age category will receive an award. Overall awards will be presented to the top male and female run finishers, top male and female athletes in wheelchairs, and top two finishers with Down syndrome. All runners and rollers will receive a ribbon. Age categories are 10 & under, 11-20, 21-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, and 70+.

Come for the RUN, stay for the FUN! Our Family Festival will include live music, Special Olympics Obstacle Course, Home Depot Mini-Carpenters, Vendor Marketplace, face painting, and more! There will also be chances to win INCREDIBLE items through our door prizes, raffles, silent auction, and our SUPER raffle prizes (stay-tuned for more information!). Don't forget to join us for lunch at 11am.

Pre-Walk Rally & Awards Ceremony

Help us kick off the walk at noon with the Down Syndrome Awareness Walk's Master of Ceremonies, Vince Vitrano, Today's TMJ4 Morning News Anchor and meet our Awareness Walk Ambassador. Plus, we will announce winners of our Raffles and SUPER Raffles, Door Prizes, Silent Auctions, and we will award prizes to our Top 5 Fundraising Teams!

19th Annual Down Syndrome Awareness Walk

The 19th Annual Down Syndrome Awareness Walk will be held rain or shine at 12:15. This 1.5 mile leisurely stroll through the Milwaukee County Zoo. Rollerblades, skates, and pets are strictly prohibited.

With his love of people and great sense of humor, Sam Lenz is a well-liked senior at Shorewood High School. Sam's favorite subject is math and this fall he will be running his mile with the legendary Shorewood Cross Country team. Sam is very active with Best Buddies and last year his chapter raised $30,000 to send 13 buddies and peers to Hawaii for a trip of a lifetime. In Hawaii they learned about the ecology and culture of the islands and the trip was the first of its kind for the Shorewood High School Special Education Program.

In July, Sam traveled to Indiana as one of two high school Buddy Ambassadors representing Wisconsin at the Best Buddies International Leadership Conference. Sam attended seminars on leadership and honed his speaking skills.

Sam loves all sports, but his favorite has always been baseball. Sam played little league baseball (fast pitch hard ball) for five years and in his final year he was named his team's opening day starting pitcher. In the first inning he struck out the first batter looking and got two weak grounders to retire the side in order. With a hard sinking slider, Sam was on of the league's most feared pitchers.

For three years Sam has been the P.A. announcer at the Shorewood High School varsity baseball games and at the JV basketball games. He is well known for his dynamic announcements of the starting line-ups.

Sam just finished a year-long internship at Sendik's Food Market and has a paid part time job at Culver's. Sam's co-workers enjoy his company because of his enthusiasm and upbeat attitude, and he recently celebrated his one year anniversary at Culver's. And a raise!

After high school, Sam is considering further education with job training. He hopes to someday get married. He is looking forward to working and pursuing opportunities for sports announcing, and he plans to remain active in Best Buddies.

Sam is truly honored to be this year's Down Syndrome Awareness Walk Ambassador, and he is looking forward to gathering friends and family for the Walk festivities.

Sam often says, "I love my life!" What more can any one of us ask for?

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Register Now

$25 Provides a new parent packet

$250 Provides personalized assistance for a job seeker

$450 Provides a school Peer Sensitivity Training to 100 students

$500 Gives one camper the chance to attend our iCan Shine Bike Camp

$2,000 Funds an educational seminar or training for parents, members and the community.

$10,000 Opens a new DSAW Chapter in Wisconsin

West-New-Brook Orthodontists, S.C.

1 Wisconsin State Council -- Knights of Columbus $1,618.56
2 Erie Insurance $1,000.00
3 david olson $1,000.00
4 Dawn Nuoffer $1,000.00
5 The Home Depot $1,000.00
6 Timothy J Tikalsky enterprises INC $1,000.00
7 Anonymous Angel $1,000.00
8 Dawn Nuoffer $1,000.00
9 Cedar Ridge Elder Services LLC $685.00
10 Steven Smith $500.00
11 Anonymous $500.00
12 Dwyer Family $500.00
13 Amy Difiore $500.00
14 Anonymous $500.00
15 Garage Sale Fundraiser $470.00
16 Jorge and Julie Aguilar $451.81
17 Anonymous $420.00
18 Tranquility Way LLC $400.00
19 Anne Chapman $340.00
20 Joanne Angelici $330.00

View Full Leaderboard

Registration can also be done on site the day of the event, however, pre-registration is strongly encouraged. Registration Tables will be located near the Maple Cove and Oak Grove picnic areas. Registration will be open at 6:30am for the run and 9:30am for the walk. Come for the RUN, stay for the FUN!

Click here to Register and Fundraise Offline!

T-shirt tables will be located near registration. Please designate ONE PERSON ONLY from your group or team to check in at Registration, turn in all money, and pick up t-shirts.

Team Captains may pick up all team shirts on Thursday, September 24 between 5pm-8pm, or, Friday, September 25, from 9am-7pm.

Please call ahead (414.327.3729) so that we can prepare for you! DSAW is located at the Marion Center, 3211 S. Lake Drive, Suite 113, Saint Francis, WI 53235

There are more than 8,000 people in Wisconsin with Down syndrome. Over the course of the year, DSAW touches the lives of more than 4,000 of these individuals and their families through the provision of services, education, resources, and support. DSAW is able to make a difference in thousands of lives because of the incredible support of our community. We are a 25 year-old volunteer driven organization -- with more than 800 volunteers across the state!! It is their energy and passion that fuels our mission forward. Our largest presence is right here in Southeastern Wisconsin, where we have been headquartered and operating for the last quarter-century.

Our Down Syndrome Awareness walks, which occur across the State of Wisconsin each year, draw more than 7,000 walkers, runners, racers, volunteers, donors, sponsors, and partners across the State under one collective mission -- to raise awareness and promote inclusion, diversity, and acceptance of people with Down syndrome and other special needs in our communities and in our lives. At DSAW we strive to guarantee access to a full life for all through education, information, programs, services, and the exchange of ideas and experiences. For the past 20 years, the Annual Awareness Walks have been the key fundraising mechanism that allow us to enter and serve communities across the state to help individuals and families with special needs prove they are stronger than the obstacles they face. Your support strengthens our programs, and our resolve.

We walk to tell their stories. That our children are remarkably gifted, talented and beautiful creations. We walk because, our sons and daughters battle every day for the same liberties that are so often taken for granted by our society. We walk to create new programs and services in under-served communities. We walk to tell our stories to the world. DSAW is 100% funded by private individuals and concerned corporate citizens and foundations who believe just as we do that with appropriate investment and just the right amount of supports, our loved ones can accomplish amazing things!

19th Annual Down Syndrome Awareness Walk

Take Part in this Year's Event

Individual Leaderboard

Team Leaderboard

Event Schedule

Donations for Top Five Fundraising Teams

5K Run, Roll, and Stroll

Family Festival

19th Annual Down Syndrome Awareness Walk

Our Walk Ambassador Sam Lenz

Starting Line Ups with Sam Lenz!