Down Syndrome Association support

AOH members in Virginia recently volunteered at the 18th annual Buddy Walk held by the Down Syndrome Association of Northern Virginia on a very wet and chilly Saturday.

AOH Brother Eric Latcheran (shown in the center of the photo) is an active member of the Father Kelley Division in Manassas, Va. He is flanked on the left by Division President Patrick Sullivan and Pete Hawk. Missing from the photo are brothers Chris Sozio and Brian Tumulty, who also volunteered.

Sullivan said the division had not participated in the Buddy Walk in the past but planned to add it to its annual calendar as it is a great example of Friendship, Unity, and Christian Charity.

The Northern Virginia annual Buddy Walk in early October serves as the kickoff for fundraising during Down Syndrome awareness month.

For the AOH members, an additional reason for participation is that the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has declared October as Respect Life Month.

More than 100 Buddy Walks are held around the nation annually, according to the National Down Syndrome Society. Most of them are in October. They are held in states ranging from Alabama to Wyoming and from Massachusetts to California. Japan and Canada also hold Buddy Walks.