Twenty-eight Sundays a year, Haggar Gym is home to Buddy Up Fitness. The Buddy Up Fitness program is a weekly high-energy adaptive tennis and fitness program for children and adults with Down Syndrome ages five and up. Their oldest Athlete is approaching 55! The program enables the Athletes to flourish, succeed, and reach their fullest potential by providing a unique environment that combines tennis, fitness, and social activities through a weekly ninety-minute clinic consisting of fitness conditioning and professional tennis instruction.  Athletes are partnered with volunteer Buddies to provide support, develop friendships, and reinforce the coaches’ instructions. 

We are proud that the Dallas chapter of Buddy Up Fitness calls ESD home. Cheryl Halpern, Buddy Up Tennis Program Director, says "Our partnership allows us to keep our Athletes with Down syndrome engaged and active on the tennis courts and in the gym, and provides hundreds of teen and adult volunteers the opportunity to serve and connect with individuals who just want to be accepted and appreciated like everyone else."