(Emily Keller, Molly Murphy, Sean Magee, Dylan King (back row) and Isabella Moessa and Macy Gilbert (front row) will be honored by their families who will ride, run and walk in support of the Best Buddies Challenge. Photo by Lisa Gilbert)

Little Macy Gilbert, 6, loves the slide at Ellison Playground. She climbs the ladder, positions herself just so, and then – swoosh – down she slips without fear or hesitation. If someone is waiting below, she will leap into open arms and give a giant hug.

Next month, those families who call themselves Team Duxbury will run, walk and bike a grueling 100 mile route from Boston to Hyannis Port to raise funds for Best Buddies. According to its Web site, “The mission of Best Buddies is to establish a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.”

“To have family and friends dedicate so much time and effort into our family, to support us in our journey with Macy means so much, “ said her mother Sarah Gilbert.

Gilbert who’s been training for only a few months to do the Buddy Ride said she has no worries about achieving her goal. She is determined.

“I wouldn’t say I’m an avid biker,” said Gilbert. “I did the Best Buddies Challenge last year for 50 miles. I had trained for a couple of months prior and it was a lot of fun and inspiration.”

Another mother who will take to her bike on June 2, is Nancy King. She and her husband started racing eight years ago and started doing Best Buddies more recently. She said they intend to ride the entire course and will have all the inspiration they need to push through the pain waiting for them at the finish line – their son Dylan, 8, also has Downs.

“We’ve been doing Best Buddies for four years,” said King, while keeping an eye on Dylan on a playground structure, though his older sister Katie, 10, was keenly attentive. “The best part is at the end, seeing all the special kids at the finish line.”

But Dylan won’t be waiting there the whole time. He intends to run a portion of the course himself. Being the great big sister that she is, Katie will run the 5K option in support of her brother.

Both Gilbert and King said they are only two members who represent Team Duxbury. They said grandmothers and uncles, friends and aunts from as far away as Maryland will do all they can to help raise their team fundraising goal of $50,000. So far they’ve been promised a little over $20,000 and the deadline of May 18 is fast approaching.

By raising these funds, the families hope to continue the Best Buddies Program at Duxbury High School and expand it to the middle school.  The importance of such programs is invaluable to kids with special needs and their families.

“We’ve had an official Best Buddies-sponsored program at the high school,” said King. “It’s kids helping kids, and pairing up in school so they can have a social life and not feel isolated.”

Gilbert said the advantages of the program extend beyond to those kids who volunteer in the program. “The typical kid who joins Best Buddies benefits too. It brings awareness to them.”

For Gilbert and King, and the other members of Team Duxbury, taking to the road to bike, run or walk as far as their bodies will take them on behalf of their loved ones is hardly a thing compared to the love, frustration, pain and victories of their life journeys.

“We’re on the ride every day of our lives,” said King. “The feeling I get when people support me, even indirectly, it keeps me going. Raising awareness, helping people understand our children and their abilities, makes it all worth it.”

To donate to Team Duxbury, go to their site at

http://www.hpchallenge2012.org/faf/search/searchTeamPart.asp?ievent=483358&lis=1&kntae483358=F85748C0198F4A388512E882F846F4A0&supId=0&team=4221885