NEW YORK, N.Y. (WLOS) — On Saturday, Sept. 12, a Fletcher resident’s photo was shown in Times Square during the National Down Syndrome Society’s (NDSS) annual video presentation that kicked off the New York City Buddy Walk.
Vivienne Sprute’s photo was one of the 500-plus photos showing children, teens and adults with Down syndrome from all 50 states and 12 countries during the one-hour video on two screens in the heart of Times Square, according to an NDSS press release. The video was also livestreamed on Facebook.
In Sprute’s photo, she’s with her dog Murphy and is wearing a shirt that reads, “MODS ALL DAY.” NDSS and her family add that the first-grader’s photo was chosen from more than 2,700 entries.
Vivienne Sprute of Fletcher, N.C. (Photo courtesy: Melanie Sprute)
NDSS, founded in 1979, is a national organization that supports and advocates for people with Down syndrome and their families through resources, policy advocacy and community engagement. The NYC Buddy Walk, held annually in Central Park, is NDSS’s flagship Buddy Walk and brings together thousands of participants to raise awareness, promote acceptance and inclusion, and support the Down syndrome community.