Thursday marks the first time the Cayman Islands will observe World Down Syndrome Day.
On Thursday evening, 21 March, children and adults with Down Syndrome will display their skills and talents in dance and art and attendees can learn more about the condition at a symposium. The event is scheduled to run for two and a half hours and begins at 6pm at Loyola Hall at St. Ignatius School in Walkers Road.
Anne-Marie Gray, a support aide at Lighthouse School, has organised the local Down Syndrome Day. She was inspired to organise the event by her brother Sean, who has Down Syndrome.
“The main objectives of the first Cayman Islands Down’s Syndrome Day event are to raise awareness about Down syndrome, the globally observed day World Down Syndrome Day and highlight the varied personalities and capabilities of people with Down syndrome,” said Ms Gray.
She hopes that people will take the opportunity to come and meet people with Down Syndrome and learn more about the condition.
World Down Syndrome Day has been held each year for the past eight years on 21 March and the United Nations officially observed it last year for the first time.
Ms Gray promises the event will be both educational, informative and fun.
There will also be a chance to win some great prizes, including two tickets on Cayman Airways to Miami, three MAC Store gift certificates, Kirk Freeport gift certificates, three professional spray tanning gift certificates, a US$150 dinner at Seven Restaurant at the Ritz-Carlton, silver jewellery, a fine art painting and perfume or cologne. There will also be a special giveaway of four therapeutic horsemanship lessons at the Cowboy Town Stables worth $300 for a person with Down Syndrome.
The event also aims to help raise funds to be used annually on 21 March towards fun and educational activities for those with Down Syndrome, to encourage life enrichment and development.
Speakers include, Elroy Bryan, Shari Smith, Patricia Gray and advocate speaker Kanza Bodden. Mr. Bryan, a teacher at Lighthouse School, will speak about the myths and facts surrounding Down Syndrome and about his own professional experiences. Mrs. Smith will talk about her research on depression and dementia in people with Down Syndrome, while Mrs. Gray, Anne-Marie’s and Sean’s mother, will share her experiences as a parent to an adult with Down Syndrome. Special Olympian swimmer Ms Bodden will provide insight into her personal achievements and experiences, as a young person with Down Syndrome.
At the event, a documentary video called “Changing Perspectives, made by Anne-Marie Gray and Freddy Diaz will be aired.
Performances by people with Down Syndrome include freestyle hip hop dancing by Tristen Ramgeet and singing by Lee Ebanks. Abstract watercolour paintings by local artist with Down Syndrome Sean Gray will have his work exhibited and available for sale.
There will be free refreshments provided by JLM Food Services.
Following the speeches and entertainment performances, the fun will continue with art and crafts activities by Mary Walton and Nancy Barnard; puppet theatre by Nadine Thomas; face painting by Clarice Diaz and Gina Connolly; and clowning services and balloon sculpting by Clowning Around Services, featuring Funzo and Lola, the clowns.
Among the sponsors at the first of its kind event in Cayman are: Baraud, Cayman 27, Cayman Airways Ltd., Cayman Free Press, London and Amsterdam Trust Company, Cayman MAC Store, the Gray Family, JLM Food Services, Nadine Dumas of What It Takes, Party Mania, Radio Cayman, St. Ignatius School and Church, Special Needs Foundation Cayman Islands and the Water Authority Company.
Down syndrome is a genetic condition in which a person has 47 chromosomes instead of the usual 46.
To find out more about the event, email [email protected].
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Sounds like a great event and we will stop by for sure.