To celebrate Down’s Syndrome Awareness Month in October, the New York Alpha Chapter at Syracuse participates in a local awareness and fund raising event called Buddy Walk, one of many across the country.

The two-mile walk begins and ends at a fairgrounds with food, games, music and all sorts of fun.

The chapter has participated since 2003 to support Sean Mahar, the son of chapter chef Pat Mahar, Syracuse Renaissance. Not only do the brothers walk in the event, but they show up early to assist with setup and stick around to help serve food. “To have New York Alpha show up in force and willing to do anything needed takes a great burden off the organizers. They are always grateful to have our guys get involved,” said Mahar.

Chapter President Kevin Claffey, ’15, feels that the event is an opportunity for brothers to step outside the campus comfort zone and really gain perspective on the community. “We are all very privileged that we get to attend a prestigious and competitive university, and we sometimes forget that we live in a community where many are not as fortunate as we are,” he said. “The Buddy Walk is a great way for us to pop that bubble, to show the brothers that this community that has given so much to us sometimes needs our help,” Claffey said.

In recent years, attendance has reached the thousands. Event staff can rely on New York Alpha to help handle the crowd. “This is what being in a fraternity is all about,” said Claffey, “We represent the best and brightest on our campus, but it doesn’t mean anything if we don’t use it to benefit others.”