20th Anniversary Statewide Down Syndrome Awareness Walk & 5K Run, Roll & Stroll

You're invited to join the Down Syndrome Association of Wisconsin for the BIGGEST party in two decades as we celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Statewide Down Syndrome Awareness Walk!

We have come a long way together in twenty years.
Twenty years ago, life was much different for our loved ones with Down syndrome. Parents were told not to expect much from their children: they would be non-verbal, non-social, and would require lifelong care. A group of parents in the Greater Milwaukee Area (many of whom are still DSAW leaders today!) decided that they would not accept this fate, and began advocating for a brighter future. This Awareness Walk has been the key event that has helped support thousands of families over the past twenty years as they succeeded in overcoming obstacles and achieving dreams.

This party is about YOU.
This is your chance to honor and celebrate YOUR loved one with Down syndrome while we celebrate you — the amazing people who advocate for their loved ones every day! Whether your loved one is 4 or 40, form a team and celebrate the impact they have made on your life!

This party will celebrate DSAW’s FOUNDING FAMILIES.
If you have been part of DSAW in any capacity over the last twenty years, then please join us for this very special celebration of you and your loved one with Down syndrome. If you were around for the beginning, WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE YOU so please let us know you are coming.

This party is going to be BIG.
Imagine this: we're trying to create the largest pinata you've ever seen, enough birthday cake to feed the city of Milwaukee, plus tons of carnival games, birthday crafts, live music, special guests, and unbelieveable prizes. Trust us -- you won't want to miss it!!

NEW this year — launch a VIRTUAL TEAM!
Honor your loved ones from around the world by launching a virtual team and/or signing up to be a virtual walker. Whether you live halfway across the globe or simply can’t join us that day, honor your loved one by committing to walk or run in their honor. We’ll even do our best to mail you this year’s walk shirts to wear while you participate from afar.

Celebrate your loved one with Down syndrome with the biggest party in Wisconsin in two decades!!
Register today to walk, run, roll, stroll, and celebrate YOUR loved one at this historic party. Keep scrolling to learn more, and don't forget to download our Team Captain Packet for more great information!

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. Register as a virtual walker or launch your virtual team if you can't join us in person, and commit to run or walk in honor of your loved one with Down syndrome. 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 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
10:00am	Walk Registration & Birthday Bash Begins
11:00am	Lunch Service Begins
1:30pm	Founding Families Celebration & Awards Ceremony
2:00pm	Walk Begins

This year we’re offering the option to register as a “virtual” walker. When you sign up for this option, you commit to run or walk in honor of your loved one with Down syndrome.

Your activity can be any distance you want: 3.21 miles or laps around your block, 321 yards or 21 miles. Get creative and have fun! Then, post photos of your walk/run on DSAW’s Facebook Page! Register by August 20th and we’ll try our best to send you your t-shirt by September 25. Whether you’ve moved away from Wisconsin, will be on vacation, or want to support your loved one who lives in Wisconsin, our community extends far beyond our state’s borders.

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+.

Join us for the biggest party in two decades!! We're trying to create a Birthday Bash that includes the biggest pinata you’ve ever seen, enough cake to feed the city of Milwaukee, plus amazing family activities: carnival games, live music, face painting, birthday crafts, and amazing prizes. Our Bash will also feature special guests, Home Depot Mini-Carpenters, Vendor Marketplace, and more! Don’t forget to join us for lunch (and cake!) beginning at 11am.

Founding Families Celebration & Awards Ceremony

Help us kick off the walk at 1:30pm with the Down Syndrome Awareness Walk Master of Ceremonies, Vince Vitrano, Today’s TMJ4 Morning News Anchor, and meet this year’s Awareness Walk Ambassador. We will announce the winners of our Raffles & SUPER Raffles, Door Prizes, Silent Auctions, and we will award prizes to our Top 5 Fundraising Teams! We will also have a special time to honor and recognize DSAW’s very special founding families.

20h Anniversary Statewide Down Syndrome Awareness Walk

The 20th Anniversary Statewide Down Syndrome Awareness Walk will be held rain or shine at 2:00pm. This 1.5 mile leisurely stroll through the Milwaukee County Zoo. Rollerblades, skates, and pets are strictly prohibited. After the walk begins, feel free to explore the Milwaukee County Zoo using your included all-day access pass!

Pre-register online until 12pm CST September 23, 2016.

Registration includes day-long entry and full access to the Milwaukee County Zoo, parking, Walk, t-shirt, family festival and lunch. 5K Run, Roll & Stroll includes all of this PLUS Run/Roll/Stroll registration and ribbon.

Register by September 6 to be guaranteed a t-shirt. Virtual Walkers must register by August 20 to be guaranteed a t-shirt.

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 10:00am for the walk.

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 22 between 5pm-8pm, or, Friday, September 23, from 9am-3pm.

Please call ahead (414.327.3729) so that we can prepare for you! DSAW is now located inside Holy Trinity Lutheran Church: 11709 W Cleveland Ave, Suite 2, West Allis, WI 53227

We want YOU for our Self-Advocate Showcase! Instead of having just one Walk Ambassador at this year's walk, we are having many. These Self-Advocates will all be honored during our Self-Advocate Showcase immediately proceding the Walk.

All participants will get a chance to "walk the runway" and be honored for their achievements. Participants must be at least 16 years old and have Down syndrome. We are especially looking for Self-Advocates from DSAW's founding families and previous Walk Ambassadors.

To apply, email a picture of the Self-Advocate and a paragraph about them to Dawn: executivedirector@dsaw.org. Please send this opportunity to anyone you know who may be interested in participating!

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Donate Now Register Now

The cut-off for donations that qualify for the Top Five Fundraising Prizes is 11:59PM on Saturday, September 24. All cash and check donations must arrive at the DSAW office by noon, Friday, September 23 to qualify.

We have fantastic prizes for our top teams! As a special thank you, the First Place Team will have their child's picture on the DSAW Billboard before the 2017 Awareness Walk!

There are chances to win for everyone!

All teams that register online will be entered into a special raffle.

We will have three raffles for team size: over 25 team members, over 50 team members, and over 100 team members! The more people sign up, the more raffles you will be entered in!

All teams who raise more than $750 will be entered into a drawing for a $100 Home Depot Gift Card.

Teams that raise more than $1,000 by August 25th will be entered to win a $200 Meijer Gift Card.

Every team that raises more than $1,000 (by walk day) will be entered into a drawing for a super raffle mystery prize!!

Teams that raise more than $2,000 will be entered into SPECIAL drawing for a chance to have their loved one on a second billboard!

**NOTE: Abby's Troopers and DSAW Leaders are NOT in the running for any prizes.

$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

Diamond
Silver
Bronze
The Michael Dwyer Family
Dr. & Mrs. Kooroush Saeian

1 TJ's Roundabout-Muskego Team VIVA JULIA Fundraising $2,712.00
2 Dawn Nuoffer $2,000.00
3 The Home Depot $1,500.00
4 Concurrency $1,500.00
5 Nicolet National Bank $1,324.00
6 Anonymous Angel $1,111.00
7 Tim Tikalsky $1,000.00
8 Mike Wulf $1,000.00
9 Dr. & Mrs. Kooroush Saeian $1,000.00
10 EveryAuto.com $500.00
11 William Conner $500.00
12 Aguilar Family $500.00
13 Jill Kusba $500.00
14 Cedar Ridge $500.00
15 Timothy J Tikalsky DDS $500.00
16 Boppy Wulf $500.00
17 Kristi Westcott $500.00
18 Mike Dwyer $400.00
19 Thomas Rex Fear $400.00
20 Anne Chapman $342.00

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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 4,500 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 26-year-old volunteer driven organization -- we have 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!

Take Part in this Year's Event

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Team Leaderboard

Individual Leaderboard

Event Schedule

NEW This Year -- Launch a Virtual Team!

5K Run, Roll, and Stroll

Birthday Bash

20th Anniversary Statewide Down Syndrome Awareness Walk

Registration Information

We're Looking for Walk Ambassadors!

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