By Cynthia Grau/WJEZ News

The fifth annual Sammy Sartoris Friendship Walk and Run will be Saturday in downtown Pontiac.

The event is in memory of Sammy Sartoris, who was born with Down syndrome and passed away in 2009. The run is held in conjunction with Down Syndrome Awareness month and all proceeds benefit the Livingston Area Down Syndrome Society.

Sammy’s mother, Mary Ann, said her son was well known throughout the area and had many lifelong friends.

“He was just a friend to everyone he met. He loved everybody and he had no enemies. He was that kid in town everyone wanted to be with,” his mother said. “This community supported him and I think because he had so many friends and his life was so full living in the Pontiac area, that we want that for other individuals living with Down syndrome.”

The event begins with registration at 11:30 and the walk beginning at 1 p.m. on the square in Pontiac.