The Heart Behind the Columbus Buddy Walk: Our Team Captains

Every successful Columbus Buddy Walk® team starts with one person willing to say “yes.” 

That person is a Team Captain. 

Following our 2026 Columbus Buddy Walk Team Captain Meeting, one thing was abundantly clear: our community is filled with passionate leaders who are committed to creating a more inclusive community. 

As we prepare to celebrate the 25th Columbus Buddy Walk, we want to recognize the incredible Team Captains who are truly the heart of this event. While thousands gather on Buddy Walk day, Team Captains begin building that sense of community months before anyone steps onto the walk route. 

They recruit family and friends. 

They organize teams and fundraising efforts. 

They share stories and inspire others. 

They advocate for inclusion in schools, workplaces, neighborhoods, and communities. 

Through all of these efforts, they help create spaces where people with Down syndrome are celebrated, supported, and seen. 

Some Team Captains have participated for decades. Others are joining for the first time this year. No matter how long they have been involved or how many people are on their team, each captain plays an important role in strengthening our community and advancing DSACO’s mission. 

Our Team Captain Meeting was filled with energy and a shared commitment to making this milestone year the best Columbus Buddy Walk yet. From longtime team leaders to first-time captains, the conversations in the room reflected what has always made the Buddy Walk special: people coming together to support one another and celebrate the value of every person. 

The Columbus Buddy Walk is about much more than a single day in October. It is an opportunity to build connections, welcome new families into the community, and support programs that empower people with Down syndrome at every age and stage of life. 

And the best part: there is still time to start a team and become a Team Captain for the 2026 Columbus Buddy Walk. Whether you are a parent, sibling, grandparent, friend, coworker, teacher, or community supporter, creating a team is a meaningful way to celebrate inclusion while bringing others together for an incredible cause. 

No team is too big or too small. Every team matters. Every captain makes an impact. 

This year’s Buddy Walk theme, “Forward Together,” perfectly reflects what Team Captains do every day. They help move our mission forward by bringing people together in support of a more inclusive community. 

As we leave the Team Captain Meeting and officially begin the road to the 2026 Columbus Buddy Walk, we simply want to say thank you. 

Thank you for your leadership, your commitment to inclusion, and the many ways you support people with Down syndrome and their families. Thank you for helping us celebrate 25 years of the Columbus Buddy Walk while building momentum for the future. 

The Columbus Buddy Walk would not be possible without you. 

For more information about the 25th Columbus Buddy Walk, please visit columbusbuddywalk.org.