Best Buddies participated in a walk for the Best Buddies Virginia chapter on Sat. May 8 at Oakton High School. The walk served as a major fund-raising event for the organization. Participants had the option of walking for either one or three miles.
?[The event] really brings out the whole community,? club sponsor Michael Mann said.
Mann stressed that it was important to see ?the differences that bring us together. Anyone [even] if they?re really not involved can come to the event,? he said.
Sophomore Carrie Zettler believes that the walk helped promote unity.
?It?s a really good experience especially for [the] buddies to interact with buddies outside of school,? sophomore Carrie Zettler said.
Each person had to raise thirty dollars in order to receive a T-shirt and a ticket valid for admission to the barbecue party following the event.
Marshall?s original goal was to raise $500, but the team was able to raise $1380.
Best Buddies also participated in a basketball tournament on April 17, where they placed second. According to Mann, the school-based Best Buddies chapter competed against other schoolbased chapters.
According to special education teacher Rachel Crawford, the organization has been able to grow through events such as these.
?It?s gotten bigger,? Crawford said. ?The first year [the tournament] only had two schools. I think everyone had a great time and that?s the most important part.?