On April 25, the Best Buddies student organization held its annual Friendship Walk for awareness and inclusion of individuals with intellectual and/or physical disabilities across Central Illinois. The event raised $16,000 toward next year’s programming and included more than 150 participants, a significantly larger crowd than 2014’s despite an onslaught of daytime thunderstorms.
Enacting their contingency plan, the group worked together to move the walk, games, and activities inside Schroeder Hall. Their enthusiasm and dedication for carrying out a great community event despite the circumstances demonstrated why the University’s education majors, and the entire Illinois State student body, are the best in the country.
“The Best Buddies Friendship walk truly expressed the amount of love and care all the members have for each other by demonstrating the sense of family we have developed amongst one another,” said Kelly Sistos, a Best Buddies member and junior special education major.
“Most importantly, the walk truly shows the amazing friendships made with the help of this program,”
Best Buddies Friendship Walk event signage inside Schroeder Hall.
Junior special education major Amanda McGreal, who serves on the student board for Best Buddies, recalls a powerful part of the day when her own buddy, Brian, asked her “You’re walking for me, right?! You’re the best buddy!”
“That moment, and the entire day, are memories I will never forget!” McGreal said.
The student chapter said campus-wide support made the event possible; the collaborative effort embodied the heart and soul of the Friendship Walk, and the purpose of Best Buddies.
“The walk was an awesome display of our mission with friends, fun, and inclusion everywhere! We are so proud of our chapter, campus, and community who helped raise almost half of the total dollars brought in from the Friendship Walk across the entire state. We appreciated all the support from our fellow Redbirds especially from [student organizations] Pi Kappa Phi fraternity and the Clef Hangers! I loved having the Friendship Walk on our campus; it was a great day!” said Sarah MacFarlane, Best Buddies President and senior special education major.
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Best Buddies member and junior special education major Kyle Pollastrini contributed to this story.
