‘Buddy Walk’ organized in Chennai.

 ‘Buddy Walk’ organized in Chennai’ –J. Paul Devasagayam, Area Director, SOB – TAMILNADU reports from Chennai that around 300 individuals with ID walked along with 300 buddies in the morning ,along the Marina Beach on Sunday 6th March 2011. Paul said ‘It was a heartwarming to see how each individual with ID had a buddy holding their hands and walking a stretch of one km and having breakfast with them. The buddies were school and college students, medical professionals viz Dr. Suresh, Dr. Priya Chandrasekar, Dr. Prethie Reiki ,Mrs. Jeniffer Arul of NDTV HINDU, the Indian SQUASH -- Deepika Pallikal, Joshna Chinnappa, Saurav Ghoshal, and others -just a few to name. The walk was organized by the Down Syndrome Association of Tamil Nadu in concurrence with SOB TN.All were given T.Shirts and breakfast. The event was a grand success followed by a street play’. The Buddy Walk was established in 1995 by the National Down Syndrome Society to celebrate Down Syndrome Awareness and to promote acceptance and inclusion of people with Down syndrome over the past fifteen years. The goal of the Buddy Walk is to promote understanding and acceptance of people with Down syndrome.March 21st is recognized as the World Down Syndrome Day. According to the Department of human genetics of St John's Medical College there is difference between chromosomal abnormality and genetic disorder. It is understood that 98 per cent children with Down syndrome have no access to education. They should be integrated into mainstream education. The Buddy Walk is a one-mile walk in which anyone can participate without special training. It is a wonderful, heart-warming event that celebrates the many abilities and accomplishments of people with Down syndrome. Whether you have Down syndrome, know someone who does, or just want to show your support, come and join a Buddy Walk in your local community. ‘Down syndrome, it is set of mental and physical symptoms that result from having an extra copy of chromosome 21.Even though people with Down syndrome may have some physical and mental features in common, symptoms of Down syndrome can range from mild to severe. Usually, mental development and physical development are slower in people with Down syndrome than in those without it. People with the syndrome may also have other health problems. They may be born with heart disease. They may have dementia. They may have hearing problems and problems with the intestines, eyes, thyroid and skeleton. The chance of having a baby with Down syndrome increases as a woman gets older. Down syndrome cannot be cured. However, many people with Down syndrome live productive lives well into adulthood. Down syndrome occurs in about 1 in 740 newborns. Although women of all ages can have a child with Down syndrome, the chance of having a child with this condition increases as a woman gets older’. Down syndrome is set of mental and physical symptoms that result from having an extra copy of chromosome 21. Even though people with Down syndrome may have some physical and mental features in common, symptoms of Down syndrome can range from mild to severe. Usually, mental development and physical development are slower in people with Down syndrome than in those without it’, sources said- News line Service