Alaina Buckingham, a 14-year-old from New Albany, will appear on a Times Square screen Sept. 12 as part of the National Down Syndrome Society's annual video presentation.
Buckingham was chosen from more than 2,700 entries nationwide, NBC4 Columbus reported. She is one of two central Ohio children selected for the showcase. Carter Cherry, 10, of Powell, was also picked.
She was one of 500 chosen.
The hour-long video features photographs of children, teens and adults with Down syndrome from all 50 states and 12 countries. It will premiere at Father Duffy Square from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. ET on Sept. 12, ahead of the New York City Buddy Walk in Central Park. According to the NDSS website, the organization selects as many new faces as possible each year and streams the presentation live on Facebook.
"The fact that her picture was selected, out of so many people from all over the U.S. … and the fact that that one was selected means a lot," Tanya Buckingham, Alaina's mother, told NBC4.
Tanya Buckingham said the selection carries weight because entries came from across the country and internationally. For a New Albany family, seeing their daughter's photograph displayed in one of the world's most-watched public spaces marks a moment they plan to celebrate.
Diebra Cherry, Carter's mother, told NBC4 she views the selection as empowering for her son. She said people with Down syndrome are "amazing, and beautiful, and, awesome, because Carter is all of those things."
The Buddy Walk program has run since 1995, with more than 150 events held nationwide each year.
Closer to home, the central Ohio Buddy Walk is scheduled for Oct. 4 at Fortress Obetz in Obetz.
Upcoming community dates:
- Saturday, Sept. 12: NDSS Times Square Video Presentation, Father Duffy Square, New York City, 8:30–9:30 a.m. ET (streams live on Facebook)
- Sunday, Oct. 4: Central Ohio Buddy Walk, Fortress Obetz, Obetz
