CEBU CITY - More than 500 members and supporters of the Down Syndrome Association of the Philippines shared a "walk for a cause" inside SM City Cebu to celebrate Down's syndrome awareness month Sunday.

Haydee King, the event's overall coordinator, told ABS-CBN News that the activity, titled "Happy Walk" aims to bring the issue of Down's Syndrome closer to society, which is why they chose to walk inside a mall.

"Well, we wish to walk outside, but we need to start in a place where people seem to be busy satisfying their aspirations, they should include helping [other people] as their aspiration," said King in her native dialect.

King added that the event's theme "Walk with them and make them smile" encompasses what families feel when a relative has Down's Syndrome.

"These kids are just like every other kid. They have their needs and wants, and if normal kids need love and affection, the kids with Down's syndrome are not exempted," said King.

The kids and their family, with students from various universities in Cebu City walked around the 2nd and 1st floor of SM Cebu City with a band from University of San Carlos playing the marching beat.

The walk caught the attention of shoppers, who stopped to pay recognition to the long queue of marchers.

Monina Villanueva, event facilitator for Cebu City, said that Happy Walk funds will go to the Down's Syndrome Foundation of the association which provides free medical assistance to children with Down's Syndrome.

"The foundation needs funds to sustain the help that we are giving to thousands of kids with Down's Syndrome across the country, in Cebu alone, we have 25 registered families who have kids with Down's Syndrome," said Monina.

The Happy Walk was simultaneously launched in Cebu, Manila and Davao.