Best Buddies Walk for the Cause

Despite overcast skies, more than 400 walkers and runners from 30 local teams gathered Saturday at for the Virginia Best Buddies annual Friendship Walk.

“We would never let the rain stop us,” said Allison Cole, Virginia State Director of Best Buddies International. 

Besides teaming up for fun and fellowship, participants raised more than $48,000 to support regional Best Buddies’ activities.

Best Buddies is an international nonprofit organization founded by Anthony Shriver, whose parents, Eunice Kennedy Shriver and Sergeant Shriver, founded the Special Olympics. Best Buddies brings together typical students with developmentally or intellectually disabled students for group and one-on-one activities. 

Oakton High School’s Best Buddies chapter, led by president Caroline McGrath, and Best Buddy Ambassador Kevin Bennett, hosted the walk.

Dozens of club members laced up their shoes to walk or run either a 3-mile or 1-mile course. 

“It’s all about friendship and inclusion,” McGrath said.

Last October the Oakton club received the

Laurent Amzallag, a local fitness trainer who has traveled nationally with Oprah Winfrey, danced across the field, leading an energetic warmup. It was 15 minutes of fancy footwork at a furious pace. 

“This is my second year here, and I probably have a better time than the kids,” Amzallag said. 

Incoming Oakton High School Best Buddies president Sarah Smith calls the club “one big family.”

Madison High School’s girls lacrosse team, fresh off a winning championship season, came out to support Best Buddies, and staff from Westbrier Elementary School led the 3-mile walk.

Virginia Best Buddies has chapters at 10 college communities, four middle schools and 16 high schools including Centreville, Chantilly, Edison, HB Woodlawn, Langley, Marshall, McLean, Potomac Falls, Oakton, South Lakes Stratford Program, TC Williams, Wakefield, Washington-Lee, Westfield and Yorktown. 

Last year, Best Buddies Virginia programs enriched more than 13,000 lives. 

Jonathan and Cindy Tepper, of Gaithersburg, Md., brought their son Adam to participate in the day’s events. Adam had a buddy during high school, and now, at 23, continues to benefit through the Georgetown University club. Adam lives at home and has two part-time jobs while participating in as many Best Buddies activities as possible.

“He loves Best Buddies,” said his mom.