NEW YORK CITY – A rainy day in Times Square couldn’t dampen the Christensen family’s spirits!
On Saturday, 6-year-old Haddie’s photo was featured in the annual National Down Syndrome Society Times Square Video presentation. The one-hour video included 500 children, teens, and adults with Down Syndrome from all 50 states and 14 countries. Haddie’s parents had been submitting her photo for three years and were thrilled she was selected on the 30th anniversary of the Buddy Walk in New York City.
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Haddie’s family told KPRC 2′s Faith Braverman that she truly enjoyed her first trip to New York and was welcomed by her many new friends in the Down Syndrome community as they all gathered from around the country to strengthen their bonds and support one another.
After watching her photo broadcast in Times Square, Haddie, her mother Lisa, her sister Hensley, her father Henning III and her brother Henning IIII marched, strolled, jogged, and cheered for a mile through Central Park.
The video presentation and Buddy Walk promote acceptance and inclusion of people with Down Syndrome, and funds raised through the Buddy Walk support a wide variety of resources for families.
Henning Christensen III, Haddie’s father, said the event was an opportunity for the Down Syndrome community to come together and for families to know they are not alone.
“Anytime someone receives a diagnosis, there’s a community out there. It’s a very loving and supportive community. In the history of the world, there’s never been a better time to have a child with Down Syndrome because there’s so many resources out there.”
To learn more about the National Down Syndrome Society, click here.