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Buddy Walk Team Has 160 -- Morgan's Hope Top Charity Draw Again
By: Wayne Risher risher@desotoappealcom Wayne Risher risher@desotoappeal.com
Source: The Commercial Appeal Memphis, TN
10/08/2005

A Horn Lake girl's team made a big splash at last weekend's Down syndrome Buddy Walk, when 160 people turned out to support 6-year- old Morgan Tibbens.

Morgan's Hope, as the team was known, fielded the largest team for the second year in a row, according to Jawanda Mast, president of the Down Syndrome Association of the Mid-South.

Mast credited Morgan's grandmother, Kathy Lanier, and mother, Denise Tibbens, with aggressively recruiting friends, family, co- workers and others for the fund- and awareness-raising event.

Denise said 187 people signed up for Morgan's team, including the principal, assistant principal, 25 teachers and the bookkeeper at Morgan's school, Shadow Oaks Elementary.

Denise said it's the fourth year the family has participated in the walk.

They accomplished their goal of topping last year's showing, when 130 people walked for Morgan.

"Last year we were No. 1, too," she said.

Morgan brought home a plaque for largest team in the family/ individual division, Mast said.

Families and individuals typically form the largest teams at the Mid-South walk.

Mast said families of infants with Down syndrome pulled together teams of 135 and 121 people, respectively. Bartlett High fielded a team of 102 people.

The Buddy Walk was held Sunday afternoon at Memphis Botanic Garden.

It attracted more than 2,800 walkers, including a sizable number from DeSoto County, and met the association's goal of raising at least $50,000, Mast said.

The Buddy Walk's purpose is to promote society's acceptance and inclusion of individuals with Down syndrome.

The proceeds fund local and national efforts to educate, advocate and promote positive public awareness of individuals with Down syndrome.

- Wayne Risher: (901) 333-2031

(C) 2005 The Commercial Appeal Memphis, TN. via ProQuest Information and Learning Company; All Rights Reserved

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