Dear New Directions Buddy Walk Supporters,
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the first Down Syndrome celebration walk held in Sioux Falls. In that time, the annual event has grown from less than a hundred attendees to over a thousand people, families, volunteers, and sponsors uniting together to share their time, talents, and dollars – creating an experience that truly lifts up our community in so many ways. We’re extremely grateful for your continued support.
After careful consideration, the New Directions Board of Directors have made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 Buddy Walk, due to risks associated with COVID-19.
Although we are heartbroken over the decision, the health and safety of our attendees, sponsors, vendors, and volunteers are our top priority. With many health-related concerns and the uncertainty of the longevity and other effects related to the global COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak, we felt it was best to err on the side of caution and announce the cancellation of our in-person 2020 walk. While we are disappointed that we will miss our time together, we believe this is the most responsible decision for the organization and our families.
After flooding forced the cancelation of our 2019 event, we recognize that this makes back-to-back years with no walk, and we share your frustration with this outcome. We had already begun our 2020 walk planning in June 2019 and had envisioned the expansion of the event this year to be even more special than in the past. Those efforts will now shift to next year.
Presently, we’re considering how we can leverage our resources and communications channels to support our families as we move into an unpredictable later part of 2020. Please look to our website newdirectionsdsa.com, our facebook page, and your email for further updates and opportunities to engage with our community.
Thank you,
New Directions Board of Directors