TYLER, Texas — Every year on March 21st, people celebrate what is known as World Down Syndrome Day. According to the CDC, 6,000 babies are born with down syndrome every year in the U.S.
Corner Bakery in Tyler was one of four restaurants in East Texas participating in “Dine Out for World Down Syndrome Day.
Families like the Godbold's, with eight-year-old Jake, and eleven-year-old Claire, who has down syndrome, were excited to get out and support the East Texas Down Syndrome community.
"This money that is donated today will stay in our community to help parents and children in this area," Claire’s mother Heidii Godbold said.
Claire is quite the dancer, and loves the Green Bay Packers and Aaron Rodgers.
In addition to the 'Dine Out' fundraiser, the Down Syndrome community tells everyone to "rock your socks" and wear crazy socks to raise awareness for World Down Syndrome Day.
"I want y'all to be aware of the amazing possibilities that people with special needs have," Godbold said.
And the Godbold's are not the only family in East Texas drumming up awareness for Down Syndrome Thursday.
Longview father T.J. Angus has a seven-year-old son with Down Syndrome, and participated in a National Down Syndrome Society race beginning Tuesday and ending Thursday.
Angus ran approximately 40 miles between D.C. and New York to raise awareness and funds for Down Syndrome.
"It's you know very symbolic, we run from the steps of our nation’s capital to the steps of the United Nations building so it's taking it from a national perspective to a world perspective to raise that awareness and inclusion," Angus said.
"People start to realize ‘hey all these people around here, whether your child has down syndrome or not, whether your child has autism or not, have value," Angus continued. "And as they start to see that, they start to realize, ‘Oh she has down syndrome.' Well she likes to play softball. She likes to dance. She’s no different than what we are. And they start to see that we're all human beings. No matter what."
If you would like to learn more about the East Texas Down Syndrome Group, you can visit their Facebook page.