World Down Syndrome Day

JOIN US IN CELEBRATING DOWN SYNDROME AWARENESS WEEK 15^th - 21^st March

 

Down Syndrome Awareness week takes place on 15^th-21^st March 2021 and incorporates World Down Syndrome Day on Sunday 21^st March.

Down Syndrome Awareness Week may be different this year due to Covid-19 but we would appreciate it if you can raise awareness of Down Syndrome and raise funds for Downright Special in a Covid secure way.

There are many ways you can get involved to help raise money and awareness, including:

• Lots of Socks – Raise awareness by wearing your lots of socks and posting your pictures on social media using the hashtags #LotsofSocks #WDSD2021 Don’t forget to tag us in too! Official socks can be purchased from https://lotsofsocks.worlddownsyndromeday.org/collections/lotsofsocks-socks  (Currently only in packs of 3) but you can wear whatever socks you like!
• Join the Downright Special Children’s Sponsored Nature Scavenger Hunt – More details to follow.
• Shedding your lockdown Locks for Downright Special! - how about doing a sponsored head or beard shave for charity! Let us know if you know anyone keen to take part in this idea and we can help you set up your own Virgin Money page for sponsorship!
• Join in our social media campaign raising awareness that our children are #livingtheirbestlives.  Like and share our posts throughout Awareness Week.  If you want to have your video included in the campaign then don’t forget to send them to Gillian@downrightspecial.co.uk by Sunday 28^th February.
• Create a Facebook Fundraiser: www.facebook.com/fund/DownrightSpecialNetwork

Please see attached our Awareness Week Fundraising pack with information and ideas for how you might get involved, some of which you may need to adapt to the current pandemic. Please remember to follow the government Covid guidelines and keep whatever you do covid-safe. Download the pack here.

 

Lots of Socks?

Each year on the 21st of March we celebrate World Down Syndrome Day. People with Down syndrome have an extra chromosome (they have 3 copies of chromosome 21 - hence 21/3, 21st March!) and to support World Down Syndrome day the "Lots of Socks" fundraising campaign is a worldwide campaign run by Down Syndrome International.

Why Lots of Socks?

This is a picture of chromosomes which some say look a little bit like pairs of socks.  Sometimes people have an extra ‘sock’ or chromosome and a person with Down syndrome has an extra copy of chromosome 21 as you can see in the picture. That’s ok – it just means that some things a little harder for them.  They are a little different but different is ok. People with Down syndrome learn, laugh, love, live and, just like the rest of us, sometimes also get cross, sad, dislike things, get uncomfortable being stared at and just want to join in with everyone else.  Where children with Down syndrome and other disabilities are given opportunities to join in, all children benefit from this and environments of friendship, acceptance, respect for everyone and high expectations are created.

Inclusive environments also help to prepare all today’s children for life as tomorrow’s adults, enabling adults with Down syndrome to live, work and join-in, with confidence and independence, fully included in society alongside their friends and peers.