By Kate Quach
On a gray-skied Saturday morning, a bright purple archway wraps around an empty paved path. Hundreds of walkers soon stream through the inflatable portal stretching among the trees in Golden Gate Park.
Some trekkers slosh through puddles in rain boots or sneakers wearing hooded coats or wide-brimmed umbrellas. All step through the purple passageway with the same mission: to support the 2024 Best Buddies Friendship Walk and individuals with disabilities on April 13.
Since its establishment in 1989, nonprofit Best Buddies International has promoted global volunteerism and opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). By cultivating one-on-one friendships, engaging in leadership roles and finding employment, members of Best Buddies seek representation in social communities and the workforce. Planting footsteps as they walk through Golden Gate Park, students, parents and co-workers celebrated their contributions and advocacy of community fundraising of more than $100,000 for individuals with disabilities.
One middle-school chapter stepped up to share awareness about providing resources for people with special needs. Dressed in yellow ponchos and holding a large banner with their school's name printed proudly in the front, Albany Middle School students eagerly carried their poster while cheering on walkers of the park's pathways.
Jelema Jarmola, a parent of one of the representative students, found that she understood more about individuals with IDD and Best Buddies through the Friendship Walk and her daughter Evelyn's participation with the nonprofit organization at school.
"Before this event, I knew very little (about Best Buddies). I was not very involved until today, but this event really gave me an idea about different parts of the world," Jarmola said.
Jarmola and her daughter called their team "nothing is impossible," with the intention of gathering as much support for people with disabilities among younger advocates as possible. Evelyn connected with her buddy since preschool. Now in middle school, they share their different experiences with one another in a tight-knit friendship. Jarmola said she appreciated the chance to hear from parents of children with IDD.
Walkers gathered in Golden Gate Park to participate in the Best Buddies Friendship Walk fundraiser for people with disabilities. Photo by Kate Quach.
"I met people who have kids with disabilities, and we have different roles. It's really nice to get involved and be here to support them," she said. "More members are needed to develop empathy. It's not only these kids that benefit but the other side as well. It's good for everyone to see how we can make change. And look at these smiles, even on this rainy day."
San Francisco State University's spirit group joined in, shaking pom poms and rallying walkers. After passing by a waterfall, under tunnels, and through clouds of bubbles and laughter, participants of the Friendship Walk looped to finish the home stretch back to the park's Music Concourse and Bandshell.
This year, Best Buddies received funding support from corporate chapters. Trey Seals and Daliyah Ross from Accenture's San Francisco branch walked alongside their coworkers.
"It's a commitment to supporting diversity. That's something that is a personal value, but I'm also glad it aligns with the work," Seals said.
Ross noted that within Accenture, a consulting firm, were teams representing subcommittees of the company, such as workplace environment and Best Buddies leaders, which both attended the Friendship Walk. She emphasized her workplace's unity in showing up for coworkers involved in Best Buddies.
"We actually have a co-worker who we're here to support, Aaron," Ross said. "We did a fundraiser for him to be able to go to the leadership summit."
During the Best Buddies Leadership Conference (BBLC), leaders and volunteers of the Best Buddies organization gather for a four-day inclusion event to learn about empowering change in disability rights.
"The more that we allow people to be more visible and see more experiences like their own, the more that we can be inclusive and designed for all communities," Ross added.
Seals agreed: "Awareness is everything."
Wesley Lam began with the Best Buddies Friendship Walk as a volunteer in 2017. A year later, he joined the organizing committee, then became vice chairperson in 2020. With a "buddy administrator" lanyard draped around his neck, Lam felt "honored to continue the tradition of raising awareness and funds for Best Buddies and their inclusive mission for people with abilities."
In the midst of celebrating individuals with IDD, Lam addressed past challenges that threatened the Friendship Walk's capacity to bring supporters together. During the COVID-19 pandemic, members of Best Buddies felt isolated and distant from the community created during annual walks. The organization hosted a virtual space in 2020 and encouraged participants to take steps as a group around their neighborhood in 2021.
Participants in the Best Buddies Friendship Walk braved the rain on a spring Saturday in Golden Gate Park to support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Photo by Kate Quach.
"It's been hard for Best Buddies to get sponsors and people to raise money for the Friendship Walk, especially with the changing economic environment in San Francisco," Lam said.
As large, local walks recently returned to physical ceremonies two years ago, so did members of Best Buddies. Lam, hoping to expand Best Buddies' student program through the funds raised during the Friendship Walk, expressed excitement over the new chapters opening in educational spaces in the City, from elementary schools to college campuses, such as the University of San Francisco and UC Berkeley. As the employee director of the University of San Francisco chapter, Lam looked towards creating more resources for students to involve themselves in advocacy for people with disabilities.
"We are raising awareness to show that people with disabilities are able to do things regardless of their ability," Lam said.
Arms stretched across neighbors' shoulders, taking strides in unison with the last stretch of the marathon ahead, walkers huddled together, embracing the comforting feeling of togetherness lost over the pandemic.
Learn more about Best Buddies at bestbuddiesfriendshipwalk.org.
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