Hi!

Welcome to the Team KIDS's (Kids Interested in Down Syndrome) fundraising page.  We are raising money for the Down Syndrome Research and Treatment Foundation (DSRTF) by participating in the Third Annual Romp for Research on Sunday, October 4, at Asphalt Green in Manhattan.  It promises to be a fun filled afternoon for all.  Please contact our mom if you plan to go!  The goal of the DSRTF is – "The identification of treatments aimed at improving learning, memory, speech and even the late in life neurological decline experienced by those with Down Syndrome."  For more specific details about DSRTF or the Romp for Research, please go to their website links above. 

The inspiration for Team KIDS is our two year old brother, Michael.  He is very motor driven.  He loves everything about the playground and the outdoors.  He also loves climbing and playing basketball while smiling and laughing.  Additionally, he has a great time in family wrestleoffs when he screams and jumps on us.  His favorite TV show is Wipeout.  He loves watching the people flip off the big red balls and land in the icy water.  He learned to jump by mimicking the jumps and falls of the contestants and will now jump any time.  He is also an escape artist.  He has slipped out of every outside door in the house but now we make sure that all of the doors are fully locked.  Michael continues to love music and had a fantastic time dancing at our Uncle Andy's wedding! 

Michael is trying to communicate more using a few words, official sign language and his own artistic signs and gestures.  We can usually figure out what he wants.  He is an easy-going guy that has learned lots about taking care of babies this summer, since our sister, Sophia, was born at the end of May!  If she is crying he will find her pacifier and bring it to her or bring a music-playing toy to try to calm her.  We can't believe how grown up he seems now that Sophia was born!  He will even start pre-school this fall! 

Michael does have an extra chromosome on the 21st pair, which is called Trisomy 21 or Down Syndrome (only because a scientist with the last name of Down discovered it).  This extra material causes some delays in his development, just like when there is too much traffic on the highway and you are moving along slowly.  It will take him longer to talk, but fortunately therapists have discovered that using sign language allows all children to communicate before they are able to talk.  This is a huge help to everyone that interacts with them.  Finally, Michael will learn differently and it will take longer, but he will learn.  We are not interested in "fixing" him (he is not broken), just encouraging the use of science to allow all individuals to reach their full potential.  Just as the use of sign language has improved Michael's quality of life (being able to communicate much earlier without being frustrated), there is promising new research that may lead to better teaching methods and treatments for those with Down syndrome or other cognitive delays, and the entire population as well. 

Have we mentioned how proud we are to have Michael as our brother?  We can't imagine life without him!  It makes us all so sad to think about the other babies, who have the same diagnosis as our brother, but are never given the chance to live.  Michael is a true delight and we know that those parents, who have not yet met their babies, must just be filled with tremendous worry and fear!  Hopefully, with more research that shows the best methods to teach and treat those with Down Syndrome, society as a whole will feel more confident about raising such children.  This is our prayer.

We thank you for taking the time to read about our brother and this organization.  All year we have been looking forward to the Romp for Research.  We had such a great experience last year and have already raised over $150 this summer through our lemonade stands with our neighbors Corey and Scott.  We would greatly appreciate your prayers and be assured of ours.  If possible, please consider joining us in October or making a donation (every little bit helps) to fund this important research!  

Thank you so much for visiting our fundraising page! 

Team KIDS (AJ, Jimmy, Cecile, John Paul, Michael, and Sophia)