Looking for a speaker for Buddy Cruise

[Guest guest]

Buddy Cruise sponsors spokesperson contest

<http://brandonnews2.tbo.com/content/2010/dec/07/BRNEWSO8-buddy-cruise-spons

ors-spokesperson-contes/>

DENISE M. GODFREY

Description: andria Hill, 6, signs the autograph book of a fellow Buddy

Cruise passenger at an ice cream social.

andria Hill, 6, signs the autograph book of a fellow Buddy Cruise

passenger at an ice cream social.

BY BARBARA ROUTEN

Special correspondent

Published: December 7, 2010

LITHIA - A nonprofit that advocates for people with Down syndrome is looking

for a national representative who can speak from personal experience.

Buddy Cruise is seeking someone with Down syndrome who is good at public

speaking and can inspire others. The contest is also sponsored by the Driven

Inc. clothing line.

The winner of the Soul Knows No Bounds 2011 Self-Advocate contest will be

awarded tickets for two on the organization's annual Caribbean cruise for

those with Down syndrome and their families.

Pamela and Arnoldson of Lithia founded Buddy Cruise after their third

child, ph, was born with the extra genetic material that distinguishes

the syndrome.

Today much is known about the three types of chromosomal variations of Down

syndrome. With early intervention, people with the congenital condition and

their families may live happy, productive lives, the Arnoldsons said. Down

syndrome usually delays physical, intellectual and language development.

One famous Down syndrome self-advocate is 45-year-old Burke, an actor

known for his TV roles as " Corky " Thatcher on " Life Goes On " and as

, the angel of faith on " Touched by an Angel. "

He fronts the Burke Band that includes brothers Joe and DeMasi.

The trio performed this summer on the 2010 Buddy Cruise.

Meeting and dining with Burke was great, said Buddy Cruise official

photographer M. Godfrey. " He graciously signed autographs for and

took pictures with anyone who asked. "

There are other organizations and events that help families impacted by Down

syndrome: the National Down Syndrome Society that sponsors Buddy Walk

events; and the National Down Syndrome Congress that hosts a yearly national

conference about Down syndrome issues. But the Arnoldsons came up with the

idea of gathering Down syndrome families on a cruise ship.

" It's different, " Pamela Arnoldson said. " It gives families a chance not

just to attend a conference but to spend time with other families, see what

older kids with Down syndrome can do and spend fun, quality time together. "

The cruises offer informative sessions on various topics. Talks on more

sensitive subjects were limited to adults, but there also were sessions for

all ages.

Also featured were family-friendly activities such as Wii bowling

tournaments, ice cream socials with autograph books to sign, and dances.

" Buddy Cruise offers a dance every night, " Arnoldson said. " Everybody loves

the dances. "

Actor Kingsley and his mother, Perl Kingsley, presented joint

talks on the 2010 Buddy Cruise. 's first acting appearance was as a

toddler on " Sesame Street. "

His mother, a writer for " Sesame Street, " is the author of " Welcome to

Holland, " which likens the birth of a baby with Down syndrome to boarding a

plane to Italy and landing in Holland instead: quite different, but both

lovely places.

" said she was told to put him in an institution when he was born and

tell the family he died - that that would be the best thing for him, "

Arnoldson said. " Now he lives on his own, works and speaks on behalf of

others with Down syndrome. "

When ph Arnoldson was born more than five years ago, he became the

catalyst for some changes in his family's lives, including his mother's

decision to take a leave of absence from her job at American Airlines. After

having had a job since age 16, she had to adjust to the change.

" I absolutely love it now, " she said. " It's really nice to be here full time

for the kids, " including ph's teenage siblings, and , who

attend Newsome High School.

A few years ago the family finished a Sarasota Buddy Walk to raise money and

awareness for Down syndrome. Afterward the parents asked their children if

they wanted to walk again the following weekend. They said no, they were

tired and just wanted to relax, maybe go on a cruise - a Buddy Cruise, not a

Buddy Walk, said Pamela Arnoldson.

" Buddy Cruise started as a household joke, " she said, " but the more we

thought about it we said, 'We could probably do something like that.' "

And they did. Buddy Cruise has sailed once a year since 2008. Pamela

Arnoldson works from home, keeping Buddy Cruise sailing smoothly.

Neighbors@...

Peace,

D-B

Nolan ~Age 8~ My Boy, my hero, my superman, who dreams of serving his

country just like his dad.

Phoebe ~Age 5.5~ The sparkle of my life born with Down syndrome and cystic

fibrosis, and destined for greatness.

~~Tea Party in the Park~~

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