Join us as we walk in support of Best Buddies mission of inclusion.
Best Buddies Friendship Walk: Southwest Florida
Saturday, April 17, 2021
9:00 AM – 11:00 AM | Miromar Outlets
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The Best Buddies Friendship Walk is the leading walk in the country supporting inclusion for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (also known as IDD).
Join 40,000 walkers across the country to support the Best Buddies programs in your schools, workplaces and communities. You’ll be making the world more welcoming to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities – one friendship, one job, and one life-changing connection at a time.
Join us Safely In-Person!
Last year our walk pivoted quickly during the COVID 19 pandemic. We went virtual and had a successful local Southwest Florida event. This year our hope is to be together in large outdoor spaces, although we know we will need to still be paying attention to vaccine rollouts and government restrictions for the safety of our at-risk participants.
Celebrating Best Buddies and INCLUSION together is the best thing ever! Grab members of your Walk Team and have a blast at our CARE-a-VAN drive-thru celebration in the parking lot of Miromar Outlets, located closest to the Playland area. We’ll have music from Sunny 106.3 and B103.9, cheerleaders, mascots, Way Too Tall Torrie, Friendship Walk give-aways, therapy dogs, photo station, and some free food and drinks. After the drive-thru event, if you and your group feel safe, join your team for a neighborhood walk.
At 11:00 we’ll announce our winning fundraising teams and individuals on Best Buddies Florida’s Facebook page.
**If any transportation issues, please contact Walk Chair Cindy Lingley at cynthiajlingley@gmail.com.
For sponsorship opportunities and other event inquiries, please contact: MelanieMusick@bestbuddies.org.
Schedule
Saturday, April 17, 2021
9:00 AM – 11:00AM
CARE-a-van:
Instead of walking, this year friends will drive the route marked at Miromar Outlets that will be complete with cheerleaders, decorations, jammin’ tunes from either Sunny 106.3 or B103.9, ready-to-go food items, and take-home Friendship Walk favors.
11:00 AM Announcement of Top Teams
Location
Miromar Outlets
10800 Corkscrew Rd.
Estero, FL 33928

Featuring Special Guest
We are happy to announce that our Grand Marshall, Morgan “The Moose” Wright from American Ninja Warrior, will join us once again on site this year. Moose has been a friend of Best Buddies and participated in our Walks over the past two years. He’ll be with us to greet everyone in addition to providing some physical fitness challenges leading up to the Walk on April 17.

Honoring Emma Bullock
In addition to celebrating inclusion, we’ll be honoring the life and memory of Emma Bullock, a former chapter officer at Estero High School, who was passionate about inclusion for people of all abilities.
Mission Movers – Top Fundraisers
Going the extra mile for Best Buddies.
2021 Friendship Walk Fundraising Incentive Program
Introducing the all-new Friendship Walk Fundraising Incentive Program. Each time you hit a fundraising incentive level, we’ll send you an email confirming your shipping address and that item will be immediately sent to you. (Except the $50 participant shirt which will be given to you either on Walk day or picked up the day before the Walk - see your local Best Buddies office for more detail) Incentive levels start at $50 and go up to $1,500. Get all six and you’ll be repping Best Buddies to the fullest!


Fundraise
Let’s change the world for people with intellectual & developmental disabilities.

Supporting Local Programs
Funds raised through the Friendship Walk benefits Best Buddies – the world’s largest organization dedicated to ending the social, physical and economic isolation of the 200 million people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Our programs empower the special abilities of people with IDD by helping them form meaningful friendships with their peers, secure successful jobs, live independently, improve public speaking, self-advocacy and communication skills, and feel valued by society.
The IDD community that Best Buddies serves includes, but is not limited to, people with Down Syndrome, Autism, Fragile X, Williams Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, traumatic brain injury and other undiagnosed disabilities.
We Love Our Sponsors!
For sponsorship opportunities and other event inquiries, please contact:
melaniemusick@bestbuddies.org
239.275.2510
Best Buddies in Southwest Florida 5237 Summerlin Commons Blvd. #105, Fort Myers, FL 33907
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Friendship Walk T-shirt available for purchase?
The official Best Buddies Friendship Walk T-shirt is a badge of honor, so to speak, and is only given in recognition to walkers that raise $50 or more. (And how awesome would that be if EVERY registered walker earned one? Let’s make that happen!)
I made a $50 donation to my child’s fundraising page – will I get a T-shirt?
Thank you! Your donation will count towards your child’s fundraising total so he/she will be the one who earns the T-shirt. (But maybe your generosity will earn you Parent-of-the-Year!)
Do you accept cash or check donations?
You bet we do! Simply bring it with you to the walk, or visit your local Best Buddies office. Either way, you’re awesome for asking 🙂
Can I volunteer at the event?
Absolutely! Volunteers are needed to assist with event planning, day-of support, and more. If you are interested in volunteering, visit the link below to receive more info regarding volunteer opportunities.
Sign up to volunteer at www.bestbuddies.org/volunteer/.
Sign up to volunteer at www.bestbuddies.org/volunteer/.
How will the Coronavirus affect the event?
Our team is closely monitoring and evaluating the situation around the Coronavirus (COVID-19). We want to ensure you that we are taking all necessary measures to protect the health and well-being of our Friendship Walk participants and many of our 2021 events will be held virtually.