Down Syndrome Association of Northern Virginia (DSANV)

10/11/2026

Heart. Full. Beyond. Words. 💛💙

Yesterday, we gathered with a shared mission, but what happened next went beyond anything we could have imagined. Because of you, this year’s Buddy Walk wasn’t just a success—it was a movement of pure love, inclusion, and community.

Together, we didn’t just reach our goals; we blew right past them:
✨ $152,000 raised
✨ 1,130 incredible hearts gathered
✨ 78 amazing teams showing up and stepping up

Every dollar, every step, and every cheer was a reminder that our loved ones with Down syndrome are seen, celebrated, and deeply cherished. To every walker, donor, volunteer, and team captain—thank you for showing what’s possible when we stand together.

We had the time of our lives, and we couldn’t be more grateful. Here’s to celebrating every extraordinary ability today and every day! 💙💛

10/08/2026

🚗💙 BUDDY WALK ARRIVAL & PARKING INFO! 💙🚗

We’re almost there! 🎉 As you get ready for the 2026 DSANV Buddy Walk, we want to make sure you have everything you need for a smooth and fun day!

👟 BUDDY WALK 2026
📅 Saturday, October 10
📍 Lake Fairfax Park | Reston, VA
⏰ Walk begins at 3:00 PM

🚗 PARKING & ARRIVAL
♿ TOP LOT — FESTIVAL AREA
Parking at the top near the Festival Area is strictly reserved for:

Vehicles requiring wheelchair-accessible parking
Top Fundraising Teams
🚌 GENERAL PARKING — PICNIC AREA 1
All other attendees should park at Picnic Area 1.

🔄 FREE SHUTTLES
Don't worry about the distance! Free shuttles will run continuously between Picnic Area 1 and the Festival Area before and after the walk to help get everyone where they need to go.

💳 CASHLESS EVENT
A quick heads-up: the Buddy Walk is a cashless event. Please plan to bring a credit/debit card or use another electronic payment method for any purchases at the event.

🎉 THEN… LET THE FUN BEGIN!
Bring your team spirit, check-in and pick your Buddy Walk shirt, hang out with your friends and family, and get ready for a day filled with community, celebration, and connection! 💙💛

We can't wait to see YOU at Lake Fairfax Park! 👟🎉

Together We Thrive!

10/07/2026

SPECIAL GUEST ANNOUNCEMENT! 🎉💙💛

We are honored and thrilled to announce that Chairman Jeffrey C. McKay of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors will be joining us at this year’s Buddy Walk! We are so grateful for his support and excited to have him help kick off our walk!

Make sure you don't miss the second half of our Buddy Walk day schedule:

2:30 PM: Zumba Warm-Up with Team Zumba 💃
2:55 PM: Chairman Address 🎙️
3:05 PM: Grand Marshalls Lead our Walk 🚶‍♂️🚶‍♀️
3:45 PM: Award Ceremony & Contest Winners 🏆
4:00 PM: Event Closeout 🎈

There’s still time to sign up and join the fun! We can’t wait to see everyone this Saturday as we celebrate together.

Together we thrive! ✨

10/07/2026

🌟 Exciting news for this year’s Buddy Walk! 🌟

We are thrilled to announce that self-advocate, DSANV’s VP and author David Egan will be joining us to sign copies of his inspiring book, More Alike Than Different: My Life with Down Syndrome! 📚✨

Stop by the VIP 18+ Tent at 1:00 PM to meet David and grab your copy—we’re giving away free copies while supplies last! 🎁

Here is a look at the first part of our schedule for the day:

⏰ Schedule Part 1:

11:45 AM – Check-in Opens
12:05 PM – Opening Ceremony Begins
12:30 PM – Festival Officially Opens
1:00 PM – Book Signing at the VIP 18+ Tent
All Day – Raffle purchases available (more info to come!)

👀 Stay tuned! We’ll be sharing the second half of the event schedule—along with another special announcement—at 5:00 PM today!

10/06/2026

👟💙 JUST 4 DAYS TO GO! 💙👟

The countdown is officially in the single digits! 🎉 The 2026 DSANV Buddy Walk is happening this Saturday, October 10, at Lake Fairfax Park in Reston, and we cannot WAIT to celebrate with you!

Before the big day, here are a few things to keep in mind:
📅 Saturday, October 10
📍 Lake Fairfax Park | Reston, VA
⌚️Event begins at 12:00 pm
👟 Buddy Walk begins at 3:00 PM
🌦️ The Buddy Walk happens rain or shine!

🎟️ Haven’t registered yet? There’s still time! Registration will remain open through the start of the event, so you can still register yourself, join a team, or invite friends and family to come along.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Bring your people! Friends, family, coworkers, neighbors - everyone is welcome. The more, the merrier!

💙 Wear your Buddy Walk shirt, bring your team spirit, and come ready to celebrate!

🎉 AND WE HAVE SOME NEW FUN IN STORE!
We're adding a couple of exciting new elements to this year's Buddy Walk that you won't want to miss!

⛺ TENT DECORATING CONTEST
Teams will have the chance to show off their creativity and team spirit - and there are some pretty incredible prizes up for grabs!

🎟️ BIG DAY-OF RAFFLE
We'll also have a BIG raffle happening at the event, with some amazing prizes you won't want to miss!

And remember, this isn't just a walk. It’s a celebration of inclusion, friendship, advocacy, and the incredible individuals who make our community stronger.

We’ve been counting down for months. Now we’re counting down the DAYS!

🎉 4 DAYS. 1 BIG CELEBRATION. SO MANY REASONS TO WALK. 🎉

👉 Not registered yet? Register now: https://secure.qgiv.com/event/2026dsanvbuddywalk/

See you Saturday! 💙💛

10/05/2026

Something special happened today! Thank you Great Day Washington.

Sponsored by: DSANV. It's Down Syndrome Awareness Month and DSANV is celebrating with their annual Buddy Walk at Lake Fairfax Park on Oct. 10, 2026.

10/04/2026

The leaderboard has been SHAKING UP! 📊🔥

Check out these incredible moves:

• Noah’s Noble Knights surged into #1 for largest team with 37 members! 🛡️
• The Double Bubbles jumped all the way to #2 with 36 members! 🫧
• Sofia’s Skywalkers, The 222 Crew, and Millie’s Milers are holding down top spots on the fundraising leaderboards! 💰

With 77 TEAMS ready to hit Lake Fairfax Park THIS COMING SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10TH, the energy is unstoppable! 🎪💙💛

🔗 Tap the link below to make your move before the hour ends! ⏱️👇

https://secure.qgiv.com/event/2026dsanvbuddywalk/

10/03/2026

🎉 ONLY ONE WEEK AWAY! 🎉

The countdown is officially ON for the Buddy Walk! 👟💙

Come and eat lunch with us! Mark your calendars and bring your appetite, because we’ve got an incredible food truck lineup waiting for you:

🌮 Rodeos – Authentic Mexican food
🍗 Chick-fil-A – Classic favorites (with gluten-free options available!)
🧀 Urban Raclette – Melty, gooey cheese perfection
😋 Yummy Best – Delicious bites you won't want to miss
🍦 Blue Bell Creameries – FREE ice cream for EVERYONE!

Bring your family, enjoy a great meal, and get ready to celebrate together. We can't wait to see you there! 🎈🙌

10/03/2026

💙💛 HEY, IT’S DOWN SYNDROME AWARENESS MONTH! 💛💙

And you know what we want to celebrate? Our VIPs! 🎉

Our community is full of individuals with Down syndrome who are learning, working, creating, competing, volunteering, traveling, making friends, trying new things, and doing ALL kinds of amazing things.

So we want to see them! 👀📸

Send us a photo of your VIP doing something they love, something they're proud of, or just being their awesome selves! 💙

Maybe they're:
🏆 Playing a sport
🎨 Creating something
💼 Working
🎓 Learning
❤️ Spending time with friends or family
✈️ Traveling
🤝 Volunteering
🎤 Performing
🐶 Hanging out with their favorite furry friend
✨ Or doing something completely and wonderfully them!

We'll collect your photos throughout the month and feature them in a special Down Syndrome Awareness Month video slideshow later this month!

📸 Submit your VIP's photo in the comments or send us a DM.
⏱ Submission deadline is October 16th.

Let's show our community - and the world - just how much our VIPs have to offer.

Because Down syndrome is just one part of who they are. Let's celebrate everything that makes them uniquely THEM! 💙💛