Nearly 1,000 Bryan-College Station residents gathered Sunday afternoon to advocate for people with disabilities during the 19th annual Brazos Valley Down Syndrome Association at Wolf Pen Creek Park in College Station.
“We must live in an inclusive world. Everyone has value. Whether you have a disability, whatever you are, everyone is capable,” association member Katy Foley said Sunday. “We wear shirts that say ‘Never forget how capable you are.’ That’s our message to the community. .. that our children and family members with Down syndrome are capable of doing anything else that a typical person can do. This is the driving force, we want them to be seen, to be valued and included.”
Foley has an 8-year-old son, Lincoln, who has Down syndrome and said these events are important to show families that they have a community that supports them.
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“One thing that’s wonderful when you have a child with Down syndrome is that there’s already a community ready to embrace you. There are people who know who’s walked your steps, so you have an immediate connection,” she said. “They become family to you and there’s a lot of support for our members, people with Down syndrome throughout their lives and their families as well.”
Through events like the Dash for Down Syndrome, Foley said they are able to raise funds for advocacy training, summer camps for members, holiday parties, festivals and socials for families to connect and have resources . In 2019 they raised $100,000 and this year they have raised $30,000, he said.
“This event is a way to celebrate our families with Down syndrome and to raise awareness about trisomy 21,” she said. “One hundred percent of that money raised goes back into supporting our kids here in the community — none of it is outsourced.”
Families and friends enjoyed outdoor games, rides, bounce houses, face painting, food and more as they all came in teams to walk through Wolf Pen Creek Park in one big group. This year’s script was to celebrate the 21st chromosome. Down syndrome is a genetic disorder that is the most common chromosomal disorder, according to the association’s website.
“It occurs in 1 in 691 births and affects people of all races and economic levels. Babies typically receive 23 chromosomes from their mother and 23 from their father,” the website states. “A baby with Down syndrome will, for unknown reasons, have three copies of chromosome 21 instead of two. This is why Down syndrome is also called trisomy 21. Each cell will contain 47 instead of the typical 46 chromosomes”.
Debbie Finke, Foley’s mother, was there to celebrate her grandson Lincoln and enjoyed seeing how excited he was to participate in the awareness walk at the park.
“We’ve been doing this for eight years, and I’ve been to every friend’s walk except for the first one in Lincoln,” Finke recalled. “What I see as a grandmother is that the Down Syndrome Association supports families from the beginning when they are babies; and even if we have a member who is older, we just bring him into the fold. And people who have children with special needs can help other younger people, so it’s like passing the torch. I think that helps everybody.”
Finke said Lincoln communicates non-verbally and you can always see his excitement when he does his “happy dance,” which he said he was doing a good part of that day.
Nicole Parker of Bryan said she was there to support her family friend Bode Rutledge, 18, of Bryan, who has Down syndrome.
“Bode loves these events,” she said. “He gets involved every year, all the dances and everything they do. And this year he won gold in the Special Olympics. He’s such a smart, amazing kid.”
Parker said this was her first year attending this fundraiser and said she liked how friendly everyone was.
“It’s been really fun to see all these kids together,” she said. “Events like this help bring awareness to the cause. A lot of people know this, but by having events like this, you really get to go out and interact with all the kids and young adults. It’s a great cause.”
Parker said he also celebrated Rutledge starting a new job in College Station.
“These kids will grow up to be fully functioning adults in the community,” he said.
Foley said volunteers are always needed at the Brazos Valley Down Syndrome Association.
To sign up to volunteer or make a donation, visit dsabv.org.
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