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Boardwalk Buddy Walk draws large crowd on beautiful day

Created in 2006, event raises more than $60,000 for at least third year in a row
Camo Princess Cheyanne Shrieves waves to the crowd during the annual Boardwalk Buddy Walk in Rehoboth Beach Oct. 7. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTOS
Chris Flood
October 11, 2023

Story Location:
Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk
Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971
United States

Hundreds of self-advocates and their supporters participated in the annual Boardwalk Buddy Walk Oct. 7 in Rehoboth Beach. Final counts are still coming in, but as of press deadline Oct. 11, the event had raised more than $62,000. 

The Boardwalk Buddy Walk was created in 2006. According to the Boardwalk Buddy Walk website, the mission of the walk is to create a community where people with Down syndrome, or any cognitive disorder, can live, learn, work and play.

For more information on the Boardwalk Buddy Walk, go to ds-stride.org/boardwalkbuddywalk or email info@boardwalkbuddywalk.com.

 

Timothy Vance holds his 4-month-old son Maverick, who was born with three holes in his heart. It’s now down to one, Tim said.
Parents, friends and supporters take pictures of the athletes after each received a medal.
Event co-founder Sharonlee Diehl shows off a package of cookies from Frank & Louie’s.
Tim Madden walks the Boardwalk with his nephew Matt Beck.
Staffed by people with Down syndrome, Uncle David’s Ice Cream gives away free ice cream. The business is named after after David Samson, who served as the original inspiration for the Boardwalk Buddy Walk and is the brother of co-founder Sharonlee Diehl. The business will have a store on Rehoboth Avenue in 2024.
Event co-founder Dennis Diehl thanks all those who showed up and helped.
Harrington’s Vikki Jenkins holds her 16-month-old daughter Rory Jenkins, who was recognized as the event’s youngest walker.
Amerie Maddox, 8, supports her cousin Kamani Clark, 4.
More than a 1,000 people participate in the Boardwalk Buddy Walk.
People of all ages line the Boardwalk to cheer on walkers, including Beacon Middle School students Matthew Hanna, Kellan Leposki and Nolan Wright.
Rep. Pete Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth Beach, and former state Sen. Ernie Lopez cheer on walkers.
Anne Cleary and son Ryan have been participating in the event for 15 years.
Rehoboth Elementary School teacher Allie Mueller volunteers at the check-in table.
Rep. Pete Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth Beach, fills out a donation check.
Mike Honeysett holds up a sign to get the 65 people participating to support his son Charlie.
Cape Henlopen High School JROTC members get their spacing correct before leading the march.
Pretty much the only time the whole day the crowd was silent was when Sara Freih sung the national anthem.
The Dewey Beach Lions Club has been a sponsor of the Rehoboth Beach Buddy Walk for many years. SUBMITTED PHOTOS
Dewey Beach Lions Club members walk the Boardwalk. SUBMITTED PHOTOS

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Chris Flood has been working for the Cape Gazette since early 2014. He currently covers Rehoboth Beach and Henlopen Acres, but has also covered Dewey Beach and the state government. He covers environmental stories, business stories and random stories on subjects he finds interesting, and he also writes a column called Choppin’ Wood that runs every other week. He’s a graduate of the University of Maine and the Landing School of Boat Building & Design.

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