Best Buddies Club to Host Fundraising Walk

Olivia Bartman, Reporter|March 9, 2021

The Arrowhead Best Buddies club will participate in the Best Buddies Friendship Walk in order to raise funds for the club.  The event will take place on Saturday, May 15th, 2021.  The location will be announced on the Best Buddies official website.  A virtual option is also available, in which participants can walk on a chosen path individually.

 

“The Best Buddies Friendship Walk is the main way that the Best Buddies organization supports inclusion for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities,” says Arrowhead Best Buddies adviser Christine Nettesheim.  

 

The current fundraising goal for the Walking Warhawks, Arrowhead’s Best Buddies team, is $500.  The goal for all clubs across the state of Wisconsin is $65,000.  

 

This year, 250 participants across the state will be taking part in the fundraiser.  Arrowhead junior and Best Buddies club member Aeden Shallue plans on participating, saying, “I’m thrilled to take part.”

 

“Best Buddies is a global volunteer organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities by providing opportunities for one-to-one friendships,” says the Arrowhead website.

The club is student-led, with the goal of partnering up participants to build relationships.  Peer Buddies commit to contact their partner once a week, either in person or via the phone.  Partners are encouraged to spend time together outside of school at least twice per month.

Due to the large size of the club, some students cannot act as Peer Buddies.  These participants can join a committee.  Lunch committee members can sit with their assigned buddy at lunch twice a month, while the letter committee members send their buddies a note every month.

Arrowhead Best Buddies also puts on a monthly social activity for all club members.  The website says that the socialization opportunities provide “the necessary tools for people with intellectual disabilities to become more independent and included in the community.”

Contact Arrowhead Best Buddies adviser Christine Nettesheim or visit the link at https://www.bestbuddiesfriendshipwalk.org/wisconsin/supporting/#1234 to support the Walking Warhawks in the Best Buddies Friendship Walk.