The Roseville-based National Down Syndrome Coalition’s third annual Buddy Walk that was slated for Saturday has been canceled, the organization said this week.

Heather Haskin, the group’s president, blamed a sluggish economy that was sapping potential donors’ ability to contribute.

“This year due to our current economy we have struggled to get sponsors for our walk and after figuring all the costs to put on our annual walk it was not going to be in the best interest of the organization,” she wrote in an e-mail to supporters.

The walk was to take place at Regional Park in Auburn; instead, Haskin encouraged potential walkers to another local Buddy Walk to benefit Down syndrome research: The Down Syndrome Information Alliance’s walk is scheduled for Saturday, October 4 at Southside Park, 2115 6th St., Sacramento. More information on that event is available at www.downsyndromeinfo.org.

Haskin’s NDSC is a not-for-profit corporation that aims to educate the public and provide charitable resources to families affected by Down syndrome. The group offers parent support, play events, seminars and other events. Information is at ndscoalition.org.