Sunday, October 17, 2010

50 States

A few weeks ago I posted on FaceBook that I would like to have a Buddy Walk shirt from all 50 states.  At the time I didn’t give it much thought except for the fact that I just completed my first Buddy Walk in Allentown, PA.  The Lehigh Valley Buddy Walk was sponsored by The Eastern PA Down Syndrome Center and I found myself wanting to wear my new Buddy Walk tee shirt every day.  I also found that when I wore the shirt people would ask me about the walk and this allowed me to not only mention my twin boys, Shane and Wyatt, who both have Down syndrome but more importantly allowed me to talk about Down syndrome awareness.  I find this to be very exciting.  Since then, a number of people have contacted me and the shirts started arriving.
So now what do I do?  Well, I will proudly wear each shirt as often as possible.   I will also write and tell you a little about the organization or the family that sent me the shirt.  All that I ask in return is that, hopefully, you read the blog and visit the sites of the organizations that I write about to learn more about them.  If you can assist them in anyway, please do so.  More importantly, if you or anyone you know can benefit from them, please contact them and use their services. 
I would also like to stress the fact I am not a professional writer (that may be obvious by my writing) but a dad of 3 kids, including twin boys with Down syndrome.  My goal is to say thanks to those who have helped me or prayed for our family and to spread awareness for Down syndrome related issues.  I also want to help as many other families who are seeking help and don’t know where to go.  If you are reading this and have never spent time in a Children’s Hospital or don’t have experience with special needs kids, please take a moment and learn more about it.  I never knew what families had to go through until my twins were born and my life will never be the same.  This IS a good thing. 

11 comments:

  1. Love the post! Wondering what states you have shirts from, and which states you still need to get shirts from?

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  2. yes Eric let me know too..LOVED the post by the way too : ) our walk is at Angels Stadium on November 7 for Orange County CA..would love to send you one :)

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  3. Hi Eric,
    I picked u up as a Farmville friend but have been reading all your articles. Please let me know if you need a shirt from CA and I would be happy to get it for you! Take care and thanks for sharing. Cathy

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  4. I will send you one from Bergen County, NJ-- you need to send me your address... We've got more than we need.

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  5. Do you need one from Louisiana? :). Let me know!
    Kelly

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  6. I have one I can send you from Mississippi. What size and address!

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  7. We're walking this weekend in Nassau County, NY. Happy to pick one up for you if you don't already have one from here. Let me know asap at marshallhagan@verizon.net.

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  8. I have been following your journey. My thougts and prayers are with your family. I live in Bethlehem and have a 14 year old daughter with Down Syndrome. I learn something everyday from her. Her love is so unconditional.... There is no secret on how to handle this, I was fortunate and had no medical issues and none to date that were what you are going thru. I wish you the best and will keep following the progress of your boy. Love to you and your family. Tamara Doria, Bethlehem Pa

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  9. I am interested in the states listed in the comments. I wear XXL and please email me so that I may send you my mailing address at ericwaxy@ptd.net

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  10. I see that Kansas sent the first one!!! Yeah!!! Amy's great with the DSG! We've belonged since Stephen was 1 month old... He's 18 years old now!

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