Best Buddies Friendship Walk: Roaring Fork Valley
Let's change the world for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD)
Sunday, June 1, 2025
12 PM | Basalt, CO
Thank You!
Thank you for participating in this year’s Friendship Walk! Through your amazing efforts, we raised vital funds and awareness to sustain and expand our local Best Buddies programs. We look forward to seeing you at next year’s event. With your support, our mission of friendship and inclusion is stronger than ever!
The Best Buddies Friendship Walk is the leading event in the country supporting inclusion for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
Join more than 50,000 participants at 80 events across the globe to support the Best Buddies programs in schools, workplaces, and communities. You’ll be making the world more welcoming to people with IDD — one friendship, one job, and one life-changing connection at a time.
We’re truly inspired by the overwhelming support from our Valley. With your incredible dedication, we’ve not only reached but surpassed our stretch goal of $25,000. We are eager to continue raising the bar for inclusion, and are grateful for your efforts to move our mission forward.
Join us for our Inaugural Best Buddies Friendship Walk in Basalt at the Basalt River Park!
Event Highlights:
Inclusion Celebration: Show your commitment to inclusion as we come together to celebrate friendship featuring music by DJay Naka G! Naka G has earned passport stamps from countries around the globe seeking his talents for massive events and has always left his mark, and standard for high musical expectations, everywhere he has provided monumental moments with music. He supported our Best Buddies Friendship Ball and said “I’ve gotten to do some pretty amazing in my career but this one was really special. Thank you to everyone who got me onboard with this magical event. I walked out of the building and got hit with a wave of emotion. Kids with special needs love music too. They love to dance with friends, they love to hear their favorite songs, and they love to forget about everything else in their lives as they get lost in the music.”
Fun Activities: Enjoy a day filled with exciting activities, including games like Jenga & corn hole and show off your moves at the One Minute Dance Party!
Petting Zoo: Prepare to snuggle and love on several adorable animals in a petting zoo hosted by WindWalkers!
Delicious Food: Enjoy yummy treats & snacks from Paradise Bakery, Free Range Kitchen, Clark’s Market and El Panaderia San Miguel.
Come walk with us and make new friends.
The venue is wheelchair accessible, and we will have an ASL interpreter on stage.
If you need an accommodation, please let us know.
FRIENDSHIP WALK REGISTRATION & T-SHIRT INFORMATION!
All event attendees MUST register. It is very helpful for our planning team if you register in advance, however, if you cannot register before the event, please visit the registration tent once you arrive to register onsite. Anyone donating $50 or more will receive our exclusive “Every Buddy Belongs” t-shirt!
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Schedule
Sunday, June 1, 2025
Check-in: 12:00 PM
Opening Ceremonies: 1:00 PM
Walk: 1:15 PM
Celebrate Until: 3:00 PM
Location
Downtown Basalt, CO 81621
Event Contact
Mission Movers – Top Fundraisers
Fundraising Rankings
Going the extra mile for Best Buddies.
Below are the rankings of the top 100 individuals and teams for this year’s event.
Supporting Local Programs
Funds raised through the Friendship Walk benefits Best Buddies – the largest organization dedicated to ending the social, physical and economic isolation of the 200 million people worldwide with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Our programs empower people with IDD to form meaningful friendships with their peers, secure jobs, improve communication and advocacy skills, and live independently, while also offering support for their families.
The IDD community that Best Buddies serves individuals with IDD and their families. The IDD community includes, but is not limited to, people with Down syndrome, autism, Fragile X, Williams syndrome, and other undiagnosed disabilities.
We Love Our Sponsors!
Title Sponsor
Presenting Sponsor
Additional Sponsors
For sponsorship opportunities and other event inquiries, please contact:
Rachaelfischer@bestbuddies.org
Progress Coworking, Attn: Best Buddies, 2340 Dayton St, Aurora, CO 80010
Frequently Asked Questions
Every person who raises $50 or more will receive the official Best Buddies Friendship Walk t-shirt on walk day. It’s our way of saying thank you for supporting a more inclusive world and going the extra mile! Want to make sure you receive this year’s shirt? Get registered and start fundraising today!
First things first: Thank you! Your donation will count toward your child’s fundraising total, so they will be the one who earns the t-shirt. Want to make sure you receive one? Register to walk alongside them, make a donation of $50 or more, and the shirt is all yours on walk day!
We do! Simply bring it with you to the walk or contact your local Best Buddies office. Online donations are the easiest and safest, most secure way to give to Best Buddies, but either way — you’re making a difference!
Absolutely! Volunteers are vital to the success of the Friendship Walk, whether it’s assisting with event planning, day-of support, and more. Want to sign up to volunteer? Contact your local Best Buddies staff member — scroll up on the page one section to find more information!
Service animals are always welcome at the Friendship Walk! However, the allowance of other pets depends on the specific venue. For more information regarding bringing non-service animals, please reach out to your local Best Buddies staff member.
Best Buddies does not sell, share, or rent personal information collected through our website’s registration or donation forms. For more information, visit bestbuddies.org/privacy-policy