Neon green shirts toned down the orange pumpkins at Hunsader Farms Saturday.
Manasota B.U.D.S. (Bringing Up Down Syndrome) held its 14th annual Buddy Walk for Down Syndrome Awareness month. About 1,500 people from Manatee and Sarasota and participated. The 2015 Miss Florida Teen, Leah Roddenberry of Bradenton, crowned the king and queen of this year's walk, Matthew Miller of Bradenton and Kelley Rouse of Sarasota. The two lead the walk, which began just after 11 a.m. The walk is one of 250 Buddy walks across the country.Â
Some participants came together to support a particular person with Down syndrome. The "Jared Rocks" team came to support Jared Stancil, a 9-year-old from Bradenton.
"We've been coming out for this for nine years, since he was a baby," said his mom, Michele. "It's so great to see the support and what it's grown into."
The king and queen lead the 1 mile walk.
Anita Raynor of Sarasota and Theresa Catalfomo of Mote Ranch walked with Gateway Bank in honor of Raynor's brother, Jose Martinez Jr., who died recently.
Matthew and Cheryl Miller of Bradenton got a hat from the Hernando Desoto Historical Society.
Chuck Sidlow, a Circus Sarasota performer, manned the start line.
The Jared Rocks team walked for Jared Stancil, a nine-year-old Bradenton resident.
Jasmine and Kane Rodriguez dance to the Cupid Shuffle.
Karen Feduccia with Keith and Bett Brown, Andrew Feduccia and Diane Battle
Justin Bear and Kathy Rosenberg play a little tennis at the Buddy Up Tennis booth.
The La Sertoa community service society of Sarasota High School dances to the Cupid Shuffle before the walk.
Manasota B.U.D.S. president Mike Feduccia announces the king and queen of the walk.
Abraham the English bulldog gets a lick of a snow cone from Tammy Cohen of Parrish before the Buddy walk.
Sarasota resident Reiss Holsbeke helps his son Jayden build a toolbox at the Home Depot booth.
Mariah and Libby Liter came to walk with their grandma Dana and Breanne Cairnie of Parrish.
Matthew Miller and Kelley Rouse were crowned by Leah Rodenberry, the 2015 Miss Florida Teen.
Sarasota resident JP Bellisimo, left, and Port Charlotte reisdent Nancy Collette, right, let their pups Gatsby and Daisy get acquainted.
