Joyce Keller, along with a group of family and supporters, participated in the 21st Annual Buddy Walk & Family Festival. 

The Buddy Walk & Family Festival is an event which promotes acceptance and inclusion and is put on by the Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress.  The event  was held on Sunday October 8th at Lake Quannapowitt in Wakefield, MA .

According to the MDSC, this signature event occurs during Down Syndrome Awareness Month and involves over 4,000 individuals with Down Syndrome, families and friends, stating "Your fundraising efforts are critical to our mission and directly impact programs and services that provide hope to new and expectant parents, training to medical professionals and students, best practices to educators, opportunities for teens and adults, and a strong voice on Capitol Hill."

Joyce said "It was a rainy day but that did nothing to dampen our spirits.  Being amongst so many family, friends and supporters was inspiring as we consider how we can all do more to promote acceptance and inclusion in our world. My daughter Olivia has a one year old daughter 'Scarlett' with Down Syndrome and she is thriving from all the positivity, love, and supports that she gets."  

Joyce works as a Commercial Lines Account Executive here at Elliot Whittier Insurance.  If you are interested in contributing, as of 11/2/2017, you can still donate to Joyce's efforts at the Buddy Walk website.