Shining bright: Arlington Heights boy to appear on Times Square jumbotrons next month
The smiling face of 4-year-old Bryson Berry of Arlington Heights will appear next month in the bright lights on Broadway.
Bryson is among some 500 children, teens, and adults with Down syndrome whose photos will be featured during an hourlong video presentation Sept. 7 in New York’s Times Square. They’re from all 50 states and 14 countries.
The photo montage — on two jumbotron screens above Dos Caminos restaurant — kicks off the 30th New York City Buddy Walk, the National Down Syndrome Society’s flagship event to raise awareness, advocacy and funds.
Bryson’s mom April has been entering the organization’s Times Square photo contest for the past four years, and learned last month he was finally chosen out of nearly 3,000 entries this year.
Bryson and his parents will travel to New York for the big day, while his three siblings plan to watch from home. His appearance — expected to last up to six seconds — will be in the first part of the video display that will be livestreamed at 8:30 a.m. Central time on the society’s Facebook page, facebook.com/NDSS1979.
“We want him to embrace that part of his identity,” April Berry said. “To be able to have pride around his disability is something that’s very important for my husband Ryan and I. Taking him to celebrate this part of him and let him show neighbors, community members, the country and the world that he is a happy, thriving, 4-year-old boy who happens to also have Down syndrome is really important to do with him.”
The trip will be Bryson’s first to New York, and his first Buddy Walk. He and his family are raising money for the NDSS’ work through T-shirt sales and an online fundraising page at give.ndss.org/BrysonBerry.
They’ve raised money for other good causes, too, including Ruby’s Rainbow, which awards scholarships to students with Down syndrome who are pursuing postsecondary education. Their fundraisers over the last three years have generated more than $6,000, and helped a family friend begin her freshman year at the University of Iowa this month.
Since Bryson had heart surgery when he was 4 months old, the family has also started a blood drive to give back. The 2nd Annual Bless Bryson’s Heart Blood Drive is scheduled for Dec. 7 at First United Methodist Church of Arlington Heights. The inaugural event collected 38 units of blood.
After watching the video in Times Square, the Berry family will head to Central Park for the afternoon walk, then plans to take in a New York Mets game with other families the following day.
“Folks of all ages who have Down syndrome are capable of living fulfilling, happy, inclusive lives — especially when they are invited, included and valued,” Berry said. “(The video) reminds our community on this big public stage that people with disabilities belong in our world. That it’s natural. With help and with acceptance and with this visibility, a world that isn’t built for them can be made more accessible.”