Down Syndrome Association of the Emerald Coast

10/07/2026

🚨🚨 BIG BUDDY WALK UPDATE — PLEASE SHARE, SHARE, SHARE! 🚨🚨

💙💛 THE BUDDY WALK IS NOT CANCELED — WE’RE JUST MOVING THE PARTY! 💙💛

Due to the potential severe weather impacting our area this weekend, we have officially been notified that we will need to RESCHEDULE the 17th Annual DSAEC Buddy Walk.

📅 NEW DATE: SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2026
📍 Tommy Oliver Stadium
⏰ Registration: 8:30 AM
👟 Buddy Walk: 10:00 AM

SAME PLACE. SAME PARTY. NEW DATE. 🎉

While changing the date just days before our event certainly wasn’t what we had planned, this gives our families, volunteers, vendors and community the opportunity to focus on preparing for the potential weather and keeping their families safe.

And our Buddies? THEY ARE STILL GETTING THEIR DAY. 🥹💙💛

In fact… we’ve decided we’re going to look at the bright side. 😉

🎟️ WE JUST GOT TWO MORE WEEKS OF RAFFLE TICKET SALES!
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 TWO MORE WEEKS TO BUILD YOUR BUDDY WALK TEAMS!
📣 TWO MORE WEEKS TO INVITE YOUR FAMILY, FRIENDS, coworkers and loved ones!
💙 TWO MORE WEEKS TO RALLY AROUND OUR BUDDIES!
🎉 TWO MORE WEEKS TO MAKE THIS THE BIGGEST CELEBRATION WE CAN!

So if you’ve been meaning to grab those raffle tickets… YOU JUST GOT TWO MORE WEEKS! 👀🎟️

If you haven’t gotten your Buddy’s team together yet… YOU JUST GOT TWO MORE WEEKS!

Call Grandma. Call Grandpa. Text the cousins. Invite the neighbors. Rally the coworkers. Make the shirts. Gather your people and SHOW UP BIG for your Buddy on October 24th! 💙💛

Our Buddy Walk isn’t simply about walking around a track. It’s about our community coming together to tell every individual with Down syndrome and their families:

We see you. We love you. We celebrate you. And we are SO glad you’re part of our community. 🥹

Now we need YOUR help making sure everyone knows about the change!

📣 SHARE THIS POST.
📣 TAG YOUR TEAM.
📣 TELL YOUR FRIENDS.
📣 UPDATE YOUR CALENDAR.
📣 HELP US SPREAD THE WORD.

❌ NO BUDDY WALK — OCTOBER 10

✅ BUDDY WALK — OCTOBER 24

OCTOBER 24. OCTOBER 24. OCTOBER 24. 📅💙💛

We have two bonus weeks, DSAEC family. Let’s USE THEM. 🙌

Two more weeks to raise money.
Two more weeks to grow our teams.
Two more weeks to spread awareness.
Two more weeks to invite our community.

And then on October 24th, we’re going to pack Tommy Oliver Stadium and CELEBRATE OUR BUDDIES BIG! 💙💛🎉

Please stay safe, prepare as needed, and keep an eye on the DSAEC page for additional updates.

We’ll see you OCTOBER 24TH!

— Kaitlin
President, Down Syndrome Association of the Emerald Coast 💙💛

10/07/2026

🌴🌊 HOLD UP… BECAUSE THIS RAFFLE PRIZE IS HUGE! 🌊🌴

Y’all, our 17th Annual Buddy Walk Raffle just got another AMAZING addition! 🤩

One very lucky winner is going to be packing their bags for a getaway at Hidden Dunes Condo in Panama City Beach! 🏖️

🏡 3 BEDROOMS
🛁 3 BATHROOMS
✨ Approximately 2,300 SQ. FT. of space
🌊 Gulf-front Hidden Dunes Resort
🏖️ Plenty of room to relax, unwind and make some incredible memories!

Hidden Dunes is known for its extra-spacious condos and Gulf-front setting right here on Thomas Drive.

And this entire stay has been GRACIOUSLY DONATED to benefit the Down Syndrome Association of the Emerald Coast! 💙💛

📅 Stay dates: May 7–9, 2027
Final stay details subject to the donor’s terms.

And YES — YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE PRESENT TO WIN! 📣🎉

🎟️ RAFFLE TICKETS
1 for $3 | 4 for $10 | 10 for $25 | 20 for $40

💙 Purchase in advance via Venmo and include your name + phone number in the memo!

Every single raffle ticket purchased helps us continue our mission of supporting, celebrating and advocating for individuals with Down syndrome and their families throughout our community. 🫶

Between the beach getaway, $1,200 private fishing charter, golf package, Ripley’s package, Fisherman’s Basket, cozy fall basket AND MORE… somebody is going home VERY happy. 😂🙌

WHO wants a PCB getaway?! 🌴🌊 Drop a 🏖️ below if THIS is the prize you’re trying to win!

10/06/2026

😅🥴🌪️

I finally get the opportunity to run our annual Buddy Walk as President of the Down Syndrome Association of the Emerald Coast, and OF COURSE we have a potential tropical system brewing in the Gulf the same week. 😂

You truly cannot make this stuff up.

Invest 92L is continuing to organize, and the National Hurricane Center is now giving it a high chance of tropical development. There is still uncertainty surrounding exactly where it goes and what impacts we may see along the northern Gulf Coast, so right now we are watching it VERY closely. 👀🌧️

Our 17th Annual Buddy Walk is scheduled for THIS SATURDAY, October 10th at Tommy Oliver Stadium, and I want everyone to know that we are diligently working behind the scenes on a rainy-day contingency plan should the weather decide not to cooperate. 💙💛

There has been SO much love, time and work poured into this event. We have families coming, volunteers ready to serve, incredible sponsors and community partners, food, activities, raffle prizes and—most importantly—a whole bunch of amazing Buddies who deserve to be celebrated BIG. 🥹💙💛

So for now, Buddy Walk is still ON as planned, and we are preparing for whatever Mother Nature throws our way.

Please send up some prayers for dry weather, a cooperative Gulf, everyone potentially in this system’s path… and maybe my sanity while you’re at it. 🤪🙏😂

Stay on the lookout for updates from DSAEC! We will keep everyone informed if any changes to Saturday’s plans become necessary.

In the meantime…

92L, respectfully, we have plans. GO AWAY. 👋🌪️😂

**Remember raffle tickets are available for purchase via Venmo until 10/09/2026 @ 5 PM CST and then will be available again in person at the event where you can purchase via Venmo or cash**

— Kaitlin
President, Down Syndrome Association of the Emerald Coast 💙💛

10/05/2026

🎟️⏰ RAFFLE TICKET REMINDER — DON’T MISS THE CUTOFF! ⏰🎟️

We have SO many amazing raffle prizes up for grabs at our 17th Annual Buddy Walk, and you DO NOT have to be present to win! 💙💛

📣 ONLINE/REMOTE VENMO PURCHASES WILL CLOSE:
📅 Friday, October 9th
⏰ 5:00 PM CST

Until then, you can purchase your tickets through Venmo ! Please include your NAME + PHONE NUMBER in the memo so we can make sure your tickets are entered and we can contact you if you WIN! 🥳

🎟️ RAFFLE TICKETS:
1 for $3 | 4 for $10 | 10 for $25 | 20 for $40

🌺 COMING TO BUDDY WALK? Don’t worry! The 5 PM cutoff is ONLY for advance/remote Venmo purchases. Raffle tickets will still be available AT THE EVENT on Saturday, October 10th, and we will accept both CASH + VENMO! 🙌

So whether you’re joining us in person or cheering on our Buddies from somewhere else, you still have a chance to WIN! 🎉

Every ticket purchased supports the Down Syndrome Association of the Emerald Coast and helps us continue serving and celebrating our incredible Buddies and their families. 💙💛

👇 Get those tickets before Friday’s cutoff — on Venmo! 🎟️🌺

10/03/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18dVytYSdg/?mibextid=wwXIfr

🎥💙 DSAEC hit the morning news! 💛🎥

Kaitlin Palmer (or I guess Parker? 😂), Amya, and Tony were up bright and early yesterday morning to sit down with Chris Marchand and Kelsey Peck and talk about something very near and dear to our hearts — the 17th Annual DSAEC Buddy Walk! 💙💛

We are so thankful for the opportunity to share a little about what the Buddy Walk is, why it matters, and the incredible individuals with Down syndrome and families that the Down Syndrome Association of the Emerald Coast is here to support.

And, of course, Amya got to help show everyone exactly who all of this is for. 🥹💙

A HUGE thank you to Chris, Kelsey, and the entire NewsChannel 13 team for welcoming us and helping us spread awareness throughout our community!

🎬 If you missed us live, check out the clip below!

And the Buddy Walk is making another TV appearance! 🎉📺 A couple of our other local buddies and their families will be joining WJHG next Thursday, October 8th, on the 11 AM news to keep spreading the word! 💙💛 Be sure to tune in and show them some love!

Then it’s almost WALK DAY! 🌺🌴

Our 17th Annual Buddy Walk is October 10th, and we hope to see our community show up BIG for our buddies!

Come walk with us, celebrate with us, and help us continue building a community where individuals with Down syndrome are celebrated, supported, included, and loved. 💙💛

We can’t wait to see you there! 🤙🌺

The Down Syndrome Association of the Emerald Coast is inviting the community to join them for their 17th Annual Buddy Walk in Panama City.

How to participate ⬇️

10/03/2026

🍂🕯️ COZY FALL RAFFLE ALERT! 🕯️🍂

Okay, fall lovers… this one is for YOU! 😍🎃 Our next 17th Annual Buddy Walk raffle item is the perfect little bundle for curling up on the couch and enjoying all the cozy fall vibes. 🤎

This adorable Blanket & Candle Basket includes a super-soft pumpkin blanket 🧡, a White Barn candle, a Bath & Body Works candle, and the cutest reusable basket to tie it all together!

Just imagine: blanket ✔️ candle burning ✔️ cool fall evening ✔️ nowhere you have to be. 😍

And remember — you do NOT have to be present to win! 📣 You can purchase your raffle tickets from anywhere via Venmo . Please include your name + phone number in the memo so we can contact you if you win!

🎟️ 1 ticket — $3
🎟️ 4 tickets — $10
🎟️ 10 tickets — $25
🎟️ 20 tickets — $40

Every raffle ticket helps support the Down Syndrome Association of the Emerald Coast and the individuals with Down syndrome and families we serve. 💙💛

🍁 Who needs this cozy little basket in their life?! Tag your fall-loving friends below! 👇🕯️🎃

10/02/2026

🎣💙 ANOTHER RAFFLE ITEM JUST DROPPED! 💙🎣

Calling all fishermen, future fishermen, and families who love spending a day by the water! 👀🐟 Our 17th Annual Buddy Walk Raffle just got even better with this awesome Fisherman’s Basket!

This prize is basically everything you need to grab the family and GO FISHING! 🎣 It includes:

🐟 2 fishing rods with reels — an inshore combo & surf/pier combo
🎣 1 kids’ Realtree fishing rod with reel
🧰 Plano tackle box
🐠 Inshore combo tackle kit
🌊 Surf/Pier combo tackle kit
🎣 Realtree fishing tackle & accessories

And remember — YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE PRESENT TO WIN! 📣🙌

🎟️ RAFFLE TICKETS:
1 for $3 | 4 for $10 | 10 for $25 | 20 for $40

💙 Purchase your tickets through Venmo:
Please include your name + phone number in the memo so we know how to reach you when you WIN! 🤗

Every raffle ticket purchased directly supports the Down Syndrome Association of the Emerald Coast and helps us continue providing events, resources, opportunities, and support for our Buddies and their families. 💙💛

And y’all… we’re not done revealing prizes yet! 👀🎟️

👇 Tag the fisherman in your life who needs their name in this raffle! 🎣🌊

10/02/2026

🎟️🌺 YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE PRESENT TO WIN! 🌺🎟️

Our 17th Annual Buddy Walk raffle is STACKED with some incredible prizes this year—and the best part? You can enter even if you can’t make it to Buddy Walk! 🙌💙💛

Just look at what’s up for grabs:

🏖️ 7 DAY / 6 NIGHT ENDLESS SUMMER CONDO STAY FOR 4
Enjoy a 1 bedroom/1 bath condo, steps from the beach with TWO onsite pools! ☀️🌊

🎣 HALF-DAY PRIVATE FISHING CHARTER FOR 4
With Captain Brock Meyer of Pompano Brock Charters — valued at $1,200! 🐟🚤

⛳ SIGNAL HILL GOLF PACKAGE
Includes a golf lesson, TWO 18-hole rounds, golf towel & golf balls! 🏌️

🎪 RIPLEY’S PACKAGE
Includes admission to the Odditorium, 7D Moving Theater & Mirror Maze! 🤩

And YES… I’m going to say it again for the people in the back:

📣 YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE PRESENT TO WIN!

Can’t come to Buddy Walk? Live out of town? Already have plans? BUY THE TICKETS ANYWAY! We will contact our winners. 🎉

🎟️ RAFFLE TICKETS
1 for $3 | 4 for $10 | 10 for $25 | 20 for $40

💙 Purchase remotely through Venmo:
When sending payment, please include your name + phone number in the memo so we can contact you if you win!

Every ticket purchased helps the Down Syndrome Association of the Emerald Coast continue supporting, celebrating, and creating opportunities for individuals with Down syndrome and their families. 💙💛

🌺 17th Annual Buddy Walk
📍 Tommy Oliver Stadium
📅 October 10, 2026
⏰ Registration: 8:30 AM | Walk: 10:00 AM

Which prize are YOU hoping to take home?! 👀👇

10/02/2026

📺✨ WE’RE GOING TO BE ON THE NEWS! ✨📺

Set those alarms! ⏰💙💛

Tony, Amya, and I will be joining NewsChannel 13 tomorrow morning during the 6 o’clock news to talk about something very near and dear to our hearts — Down syndrome awareness, the Down Syndrome Association of the Emerald Coast, and our upcoming 17th Annual Buddy Walk! 🌺🫶

Having the opportunity to use our voices — and especially to give Amya a chance to be seen, celebrated, and represented — means more to me than I can put into words. 💙

We’d LOVE for our DSAEC families, friends, supporters, sponsors, and community to tune in tomorrow morning and cheer us on from home! 🤗📺

And if 6 AM is a little too early for you 😂☕️, don’t worry — we’ll be sharing the clip afterward so you can catch it then!

Thank you to everyone who continues to support our mission and our Buddies. Every opportunity like this helps us spread a little more awareness, acceptance, inclusion, and LOVE. 💙💛

See y’all bright and early! ☀️📺🤗

10/02/2026

🌺💙 THE 17TH ANNUAL BUDDY WALK IS ALMOST HERE! 💛🌴

Grab your family, throw on your best luau vibes, and come spend the day with us as we celebrate, include, support, and empower our incredible Down syndrome community! 💙💛

📅 Saturday, October 10, 2026
📍 Tommy Oliver Stadium
351 E 13th St, Panama City, FL 32401
⏰ Registration begins at 8:30 AM
👟 Walk begins at 10:00 AM
🎟️ Registration: $15
💙 Individuals with Down syndrome walk FREE!

And this is SO much more than a walk! 🎉 We’ll have hamburgers, hotdogs, chips, snow cones, cotton candy & popcorn 🍔🌭🍿 PLUS face painting, balloon animals, bounce houses, booths full of goodies, and tons of family fun! 🎈🏰

Buddy Walk is one of our favorite days of the entire year because it gives our community a chance to come together and celebrate the people we love while raising awareness, building connections, and supporting the mission of the Down Syndrome Association of the Emerald Coast. 💙💛

🌺 Come walk with us. Come celebrate with us. Come show our buddies just how loved they are!

👉 Register at www.dsaec.org

Tag your friends, share this post, and help us make our 17th Annual Buddy Walk one to remember! 🌴🌺💙