On Sunday, April 12, Elizabethtown College’s Best Buddies club hosted its fourth annual Friendship Walk at the Thompson Gymnasium. The event centered on inclusion, connection and community.
Running from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the walk brought together students, faculty, local vendors and community members to support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs). Participants circled the gym in laps throughout the day while performances, games and activities kept the energy high.
For organizers like Lola Schaeffer, a third-year occupational therapy major, the event represents more than just a fundraiser.
“The Friendship Walk is a fundraiser slash our big event,” Schaeffer said. “It’s raising money for people with IDDs. We do laps around every hour, and we have a bunch of our school clubs perform.”
Now in its fourth year, the event has grown into a campus tradition rooted in the mission of Best Buddies. Schaeffer noted that the idea originated with a former club president and has continued to resonate.
“It really fits with the message of our club,” she said. “We think it was a good event to have something for everyone to come together and participate [for] a similar cause.”
That sense of togetherness was visible throughout the gym, from student performers to local vendors like Figments in Sprinkles, an ice cream business that emphasized the joy of participation.
“We make it a goal of ours to be involved in as many community events and activities as we can be, especially ones we believe have a really good cause,” said co-owner of Figment in Sprikles Tony Gibble said. “We have quite a few friends that are in the Best Buddies program.”
For other co-owner Clint Gibble, the highlight is watching the buddies themselves engage with the experience.
“Seeing the buddies light up when they get to create their own magical ice cream,” he said. “There’s so many fun toppings and choices. They really go wild, and it’s exciting for them.”
Entertainment played a major role in the event, with performances from campus groups helping to maintain a lively atmosphere. The Etown College Dance Team brought energy to the floor, while a cappella groups Vocalign and Melica performed for an enthusiastic audience.
“It’s a great cause,” said Ddance tTeam captain Gabrielle Petridge, a junior healthcare administration major, said. “Any chance to perform, we love, but if it can be for a good cause, that’s always much better.”
For some performers, the event marked a first-time experience. Maddie Hall, a first-year occupational therapy major and member of Vocalign, described the environment as uplifting.
“It’s a really good cause, and it’s such good energy here,” Hall said.
Beyond performances and activities like badminton, volleyball, face painting and temporary tattoos, the heart of the Friendship Walk lies in the relationships it fosters. For many students, involvement in Best Buddies is deeply personal.
Julia Sevick, a first-year early childhood education and special education major, shared how quickly the program became meaningful to her.
“I have a buddy named Abby,” Sevick said. “I was really upset that my high school didn’t have a Best Buddies club, since it’s always been something that aligns with my values and what I want to do with my life. So the second I saw that we had one on campus, I joined, and I got paired with Abby, and I’m so happy. She’s the best buddy I could ask for, and we just have so much fun together.”
Inclusion is something built through shared experiences, small moments and genuine friendships.
