LOCAL

St. Augustine girl will be featured in National Down Syndrome Society video in NYC's Times Square

The honor is part of the National Down Syndrome Society’s New York City Buddy Walk

By Renee Unsworth
Correspondent
Hope Pidcock, 10, at HorsePlay Therapy Center. The fourth-grader has been riding horses since she was 2. She will be featured in a video played in Times Square during the National Down Syndrome Society’s New York City Buddy Walk.

Each year, the National Down Syndrome Society reminds the world about the value that people with Down syndrome bring to their communities in a big way: Through a special video presentation on a jumbo screen in the heart of Times Square in New York City. 

St. Augustine resident Hope Pidcock, age 10, will represent northeast Florida on that video, as her photo was selected, along with 500 others, from more than 2,400 submissions.

“Every year, the National Down Syndrome Society requests photos of our loved ones with Down syndrome for the Times Square jumbotron,” said Kristin Pidcock, Hope’s mom. “We've known friends who have been chosen, but this was her first time selected!”

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The hour-long presentation kicks off the NYC Buddy Walk and is streamed live on Facebook across the country. The video presentation takes place from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 17, followed by the buddy walk from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Central Park. Those who can’t join the walk in person can participate virtually from home. Learn more at bit.ly/3SIz7QS.

Hope Pidcock, 10, at HorsePlay Therapy Center. The fourth-grader will be featured in a video played in Times Square during the National Down Syndrome Society’s New York City Buddy Walk.

Hope and her family were notified in late July and will find out soon what time to expect her photo to appear in the video, which will feature those chosen by alphabetical order. 

While the New York City Buddy Walk takes place on Sept. 17, the Down Syndrome Association of Jacksonville will host a local Buddy Walk on Oct. 15, 2022, at Jacksonville Beach Seawalk Pavilion. Learn more at bit.ly/3Szqsjq.

“The Down Syndrome Association of Jacksonville is our local chapter. The DSAJ was the number one support system we received upon Hope’s birth, and continues to provide services, advice and opportunities to families like ours,” Pidcock explained. 

DSAJ was founded by a handful of families in 1989 and continues to be the only agency in the northeast Florida and southeast Georgia area that assists families of those with Down syndrome from prenatal diagnosis, early intervention, the school-aged years, and throughout adulthood. The association has more than 1,500 individuals, families and community members.

According to the CDC, Down syndrome continues to be the most common chromosomal disorder. Each year, about 6,000 babies are born with Down syndrome in the United State, which is about 1 in every 700 babies born.  

More community support

In addition to receiving support from DSAJ, Hope and her family have been visiting HorsePlay Therapy Center since Hope was 2 years old. This St. Augustine-based nonprofit organization is one of the few organizations in the Southeast that is dedicated to providing a comprehensive medical model of hippotherapy and equine therapy to children and veterans. HorsePlay is one of the only organizations in northeast Florida that provides physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy to children with special needs. 

Hope Pidcock, 10, at HorsePlay Therapy Center. The fourth-grader will be featured in a video played in Times Square during the National Down Syndrome Society’s New York City Buddy Walk.

“Hope started riding at around age 2. I couldn't believe she sat on that giant horse and took off! The horses are gentle. Hope receives speech therapy while riding, and her core strength has improved tremendously. Over the years, she has ridden forward and even backward,” said Pidcock.

“Their executive director, and Hope's first physical therapist, is the amazing Vicky Carregal. We can't say enough how Vicky and the staff support our family.” 

Additionally, HorsePlay serves veterans who were wounded in combat and those suffering from PTSD, traumatic brain injury, abuse trauma and hazing trauma. Learn more at horseplaytherapy.org.

Hope is also a member of Adaptive Dance Superstars, a local dance school for children with special needs, founded in 2019 by Brittany Helwig. 

Hope Pidcock, 10, at Adaptive Dance Superstars. She will be featured in a video played in Times Square during the National Down Syndrome Society’s New York City Buddy Walk.

“Every fall and spring, Hope and her dance friends meet every Saturday for an hour-long class. Each dancer is paired with a buddy. Hope loves exercises at the barre, doing leaps across the floor, and her buddies,” Pidcock said. “Ms. Brittany, and our buddies, are so kind, and provide a judgement-free space for Hope to dance to the beat of her drum. They are incredible people.”

In addition to her weekly “dates” at HorsePlay Therapy and Adaptive Dance Superstars, Hope has therapy appointments at Brooks Pediatric Rehab and she attends area schools.

“She has wonderful summer support with our friends at Cathedral Parish Early Learning Center, and is a fourth-grader at Osceola Elementary School,” Pidcock said.

To see Hope on the Times Square screen on Sept. 17, follow the National Down Syndrome Society on Facebook at facebook.com/NDSS1979.