Buddy Walk on Daniel Island

Click here to view the Gallery Photo Album of the day’s activities.

A beautiful October Sunday in Charleston brought out the crowd for the 7th Annual Buddy Walk for the Down Syndrome Association of the Lowcountry, which was held at Etiwan Park on Daniel Island. You could look at the faces of parents, grandparents, siblings, neighbors and sponsors and tell that each and everyone was proud to be there to support this cause. Regardless your age, there was fun to be had. Face painting, balloon animals, clowns, music, dancing, football, and even a hot dog eating competition to name a few. Tents lined the perimeter of the park and were adorned with banners of the “Buddy’s” name for that tent.

The event began with registration at 12:30 with the actual walk beginning at 3:00. As the participants walked through the tree-lined streets surrounding Etiwan Park, residents stood on porches and in driveways waving in support to the throng of people walking for their “buddies”. As the walk ended back at the park, you could see the long afternoon taking its toll on the little ones. One by one, the heads were nodding and the eyes closing for a late afternoon snooze.

There are many myths about those with Down syndrome and some of those myths were reflected on signs along the Buddy Walk route. Participating in events such as the Buddy Walk raises one’s awareness and curiosity which otherwise may never be tapped. This genetic condition occurs in one of every 733 births. It is found in all races and economic levels and there are more than 400,000 people with Down syndrome in the United States alone.

The Buddy Walk is a national program to promote acceptance and inclusion of people with Down syndrome and to raise funds for local and national initiatives that support people with Down syndrome and their families. The Buddy Walk began in 1995 and today there are 275 registered Walks with over 250,000 Walkers, which raise approximately $10 million annually across the country.

If you would like to learn more about Down syndrome, please go to the local or national websites reflected below. It will open your eyes and touch your heart.

Race for the Cure

The Family Circle Cup Stadium played host to the 17th annual Susan G. Komen Lowcountry Race for the Cure. A record number of participants, approximately 10,000, included runners and walkers, men and women, survivors and fighters put on their pink to participate in the fundraiser. Dollars raised are used for breast cancer research and to support programs which offer assistance, especially to those without insurance and who need mammograms. Up to 75% of the money raised at the event stays in the Lowcountry; the remainder going to the national organization for research and educational programs worldwide.

As a reminder, pledged money from the race is being accepted through December 1, 2010. The amount tallied thus far is nearing the goal of $400,000 for the pledge program and an additional $250,000 is estimated from contributed registration fees.

Thanks to events like the Race for the Cure, the Lowcountry chapter of the Susan G. Komen organization has invested more than three million dollars in local breast health and breast cancer awareness projects in the 13 counties represented by the affiliate.

Plans for next year’s Race for the Cure on October 15, 2011 will be underway soon. One of the major focus points in planning will be evaluating parking options for the event. Since record attendance and participation is being broken from year-to-year, parking can be a headache, at times, for those visiting or living on Daniel Island during the morning’s event.

Taffy Tamblyn, Executive Director of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Lowcountry Affiliate, envisions pink buses bringing people to the Daniel Island event from varying community locations. Now, wouldn’t that be a heart-warming sight?

If you didn’t make it out for the race, don’t worry. You can still donate to the foundation online at www.komenlowcountry.org or call 843-556-8011. You can also mail or deliver a check to 9300 Medical Plaza Drive, Suite F, North Charleston, SC 29406.

Photography and Video courtesy of Fabrizio Productions, LLC.

“We Fight Back” by Tim Halperin. Proceeds from downloads on iTunes goes to the Komen Foundation.

Bark Avenue Pet Resort

2010 Westie Walk

(Click here to see the Album of Photos in the GC.com Gallery). Once in the Album you can View as a Slideshow or click anywhere on photo to Zoom picture size.

October 30, 2010 was the first official Westie Walk in Charleston. A beautiful afternoon began at White Point Garden at the Battery, where the four-legged children began to gather with their parents for the one-half and one mile walks along the Battery and on surrounding tree-lined streets. Adorned in a variety of colorful costumes for the event, most were on their best behavior, and the doggies were good too. There were other breeds who joined in the fun and seemed to watch in amazement at so many look-alikes in the crowd.

GreaterCharleston.com was proud to be invited to be part of the afternoon. Doug McFadden also took many photos and video of the activities so also look for his photos and video on YouTube. Please see the excerpt below from the Charleston Westie Club website.

“As of August, 2010, the Charleston Westie Club has in its membership approximately 120 Owners of 150 Westies from all across the Charleston area. At our first Get-Together in October of 2007 in the Ole Village of Mt Pleasant, we were all amazed that 13 Westies had gathered for the event (we thought that was a lot!). Soon word began spreading and at our next event we had 32 Westies in attendance and then every event thereafter we’ve had in-between 50-62 Westies (plus a couple of Scotties, a Norwich and a Carin terrier present).

The Charleston Westie Club has two annual Get-Togethers (Spring and Fall). This Fall will be our 7th Get-Together and will be held in Historic Charleston at White Point Gardens followed by a Westie Walk thru Downtown. We have been very fortunate to have a great group of Very Important Volunteers to help with such important tasks as Website Manager, Event Photographer, Meet & Greeters, Sign Preparers, Special Events Coordinators, Customers of our Classified Section and Volunteer Owner Experts who share information on almost all topics including raising and caring for Westies and their health. Thank you for all your valued assistance.

If anyone knows of a Westie Owner that has not yet joined the club, please email dick.nemes@comcast.net with the contact information (email address preferred along with their names) and they’ll receive a personalized invitation to our Club and be added to our email list for future updates on our Events.”

Southwest Airlines Announcement

Southwest Airlines begins seven daily flights from Charleston to four cities on March 13, 2011. One to Nashville, one to Houston, two to Chicago, and three to Baltimore/Washington. Business as usual at Southwest allows your first two bags to be FREE.  Check out Southwest’s everyday low fares starting at $59 one-way.

Charleston has been in need of a discount airline since AirTran left in December 2009 and Independence Air pulled out of Charleston a few years ago. A local official states “Southwest has never left a city once they began service to that city”. Tourism officials claim Southwest’s arrival in Charleston will save travelers an estimated $180 million in air fares. South Carolina’s coast is the catalyst for the state’s $18 billion tourism industry.

Charleston just keeps getting better!

Bark Avenue Pet Resort

Bark Avenue Pet Resort is a locally-owned luxury canine boarding, daycamp and grooming facility. We cater to the needs of your dog and offer the largest suites and runs in Charleston.
Our luxury suites are 8×7 and include toddler bed and television and our luxury 6×8 runs include an x-large petcot.
Our Daycamp Rates are the Lowest in Charleston! Daycamp passes are ONLY $110 for 10 days or $210 for 20 days.
We also offer grooming and bathing services. All baths include ears, nails and glands, blowdry and brushout. Baths and Grooms based on size and length of coat.

Please call 843.471.2275 for more information or visit www.barkavenuecharleston.com

Lizard Love

No, these are not my pets, but they are definitely pesky little creatures and should probably be the designated pet of South Carolina since they are everywhere. Caught these two making out on my screened porch….GET A ROOM!

123 Countertops Co.

Get your new countertops today! Easy as 123 Countertops. All surfaces and specialize in laminate for low cost options. We can build forms on site. We work
24/7 to get them job done right the first time. Calll for free Written Estimates.
Small local business that cuts out the middle man to save you money!
Call Kevin 24/7 843-801-7263 Cell
843-875-9671 Messages
email vicki.devaney@gmail.com