NEW YORK, Oct. 19, 2011—On Saturday, Oct. 22, the Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Washington, D.C. is holding a rash of races to raise money for Best Buddies International, a nonprofit that provides leadership training, employment opportunities, and friendship building for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
The challenge is open to participants of all ages and abilities and features two bike races and two running events starting at the Washington Monument. The bike races include 100K and 20-mile events starting at 7:30 a.m. and 7:45 a.m. respectively. The challenge also features the Carl Lewis Challenge at 8:30 a.m., a 5K run/walk led by the Olympic gold-medalist, and the Celebrity-Student Fun Run at 9:30 a.m., a 5K run/walk for high school and college students led by “Glee” star Lauren Potter. Potter, who has Down syndrome, plays cheerleader Becky Jackson on the hit Fox show.
“I am looking forward to leading the Celebrity-Student Fun Run, because I want to help raise awareness about Best Buddies,” said Potter.
Best Buddies has 1,500 chapters in all 50 states and 50 countries with programs targeted at middle-school, high school and college students, as well as adults.
“Best Buddies is very important, because it helps makes everyone—especially kids and young adults with intellectual disabilities—feel included!”
Potter told People magazine in February that she was bullied in school—kids made her eat sand and taunted her. She said he still gets called the “R” word. So she teamed up with Best Buddies and the Special Olympics on the Spread the Word to End the Word campaign.
Now she’s leading the charge for Best Buddies at the Celebrity-Student Fun Run. Other celebrities expected to make appearances include: Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis; American cycling legend Bobby Julich; American Olympic cyclist Bobby Lea and his brother Syd Lea, a Special Olympics cycling gold-medalist; Ted Leonsis, owner of the Washington Capitals, Washington Mystics and Washington Wizards; Miss Teen USA Danielle Doty; Miss District of Columbia Heather Swann; Miss Teen District of Columbia Jmani Bentham; Miss Maryland Allyn Rose; Miss Teen Maryland Kristen Nicholson; andpop artist Romero Britto.
Participants in all the challenge events will be treated to a gourmet lunch and a special performance by Kool and the Gang.
Register for any of the challenge’s races at www.bestbuddieschallenge.org.
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