LEOMINSTER – The second annual Best Buddies Friendship Walk at Doyle Conservation Area last weekend raised $1,000 more than the inaugural event last year.
The June 10 event centered around a leisurely walk around the conservation area, but had activities including face painting and lawn games, crafts and sensory activities courtesy of Project Apples Leominster CFCE & PCHP, and a potluck picnic spread.
The walk was the final Leominster Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) event of the school year, a parent-run organization that supports special education students and families. Organized by SEPAC board members including President Angela Thomas, Development Director Shannon LeClair, and Family Resource Director Mary Caskins, the day came off with many other helpers including Leominster Public Schools Special Education Director Laura VanDorn, whom LeClair said, “was hands-on and helpful on Saturday from start to finish.”
LeClair characterized the Best Buddies walk with one word: “Amazing.”
“Last year was our first go at this event and I am beyond pleased with how quickly it’s blossoming,” she said. “Our participation numbers more than doubled from last year, going from 35 to 75 individuals, and we were also able to fundraise $1,000 more than last year, putting us just shy of $3,500.”
Funds raised benefit Best Buddies, the world’s largest organization dedicated to ending the social, physical, and economic isolation of the 200 million people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Fitchburg and Leominster high schools both have Best Buddies chapter classrooms that host special education program students and Peer Buddies students who assist them.
According to the Best Buddies website, the majority of donations are used “directly used towards the enrichment of our Friendship, Jobs, Leadership Development, and Living programs.” Five people raised $500 or more for this year’s walk including Jessica Hazard, John Ballou, Diana Payne, Natalie Pelletier, and LeClair’s 9-year-old son Cameron.
LeClair has been active with Best Buddies and SEPAC for years. Her son Cameron, who is autistic, joined her for the walk. She has a blog and Facebook group, The Advocacy Partnership, Team TAP for short, with the mission to support “local parents of kiddos with neurodiversities.”
The enjoyment she gets from being part of the organizations is twofold.
“On one hand we are fundraising money for programs that help those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. My son, Cameron, and several of his friends fall under that umbrella, so for personal reasons it is near and dear to my heart,” LeClair said. “Secondly, this year the SEPAC promoted this walk as our end-of-year community event. Very often parents and caregivers of individuals with special needs self-isolate. They may not have people in their lives who live close by that understand that family dynamic. Some challenges can make it near impossible to access typical events. Our mission as a SEPAC is not only to provide educational workshops and resources for our district families, but to offer support and rapport building within our community. Watching the kids play together and the adults making connections, that’s what it’s all about.”
An ice cream truck came towards the end of the event delighted children and adults.
LeClair said she and the other members of SEPAC are grateful to all involved in making it a success.
“Many folks offered to come early or stay late to help with set up and clean up,” she said. “Project Apples provided wonderful activities for the kids, and the staff at Doyle Conservation is amazing to work with. Myself and all the SEPAC board members could not be more thrilled with how everything came together.”
