Central PA Down Syndrome Awareness Group

World Down Syndrome Day

corig — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 15:45:28 +0000

21 March 2012 marks the 7th anniversary of World Down Syndrome Day and for the first time in 2012 this day will be officially observed by the United Nations.

4th Annual Carlisle Area Buddy Walk

corig — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 04:26:00 +0000

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On September 19, 2011, almost 400 people gathered at Carlisle Area High School to participate in the 4th Annual Carlisle Area Buddy Walk®! The Buddy Walk® is a one mile walk that promotes acceptance and awareness of people with Down syndrome in our community.

Together we raised over $15,000!

Party Down Day 2011 Pictures

corig — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 19:11:12 +0000

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On July 23, 2011 Central PA Down Syndrome Awareness Group gathered at The Phillip Bongiorno Center to enjoy friends, food and swimming! 91 people came together to promote acceptance and awareness and to celebrate the amazing uniqueness of people with Down syndrome.

Central PA Down Syndrome Awareness Group social events are free and open to everyone!

Play Ball!

corig — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 02:59:13 +0000

America’s greatest past-time became CPADSAG’s awareness opportunity!

June 26, 2011 was the perfect summer day for a baseball game. CPADSAG hosted Down Syndrome Awareness Day at The Harrisburg Senators. Over 120 CPADSAG supporters infiltrated Metro Bank Park to show their support of people with Down syndrome in their community.

After a picnic lunch an on-field pre-game award was presented to Emily Player for her efforts to raise over $18,000 for Climb Up for Down Syndrome. The funds Emily raised were donated to Central PA Down Syndrome Awareness Group to promote acceptance and awareness in the community.

As the Harrisburg Senators prepared to battle the Altoona Curve, Spencer Grab threw the “first pitch”. The Senators won the game 6-0!

CRMC Family Fun & Safety Day

corig — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 02:46:33 +0000

CPADSAG enjoyed a beautiful day at the Carlisle Regional Medical
Center’s Family Fun & Safety Day on May 7, 2011! The children who
visited our booth enjoyed creative fingerprint art! Their parents were
provided with McGruff Safe Kids ID kits.

Hundreds of people learned a little more about acceptance and awareness of people with Down syndrome in the local community!

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Spring Fling 2011!

corig — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 19:41:40 +0000

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109 people gathered to celebrate the end of winter at the Spring Fling!

Balloon artists, face painting, music, dancing and food was enjoyed by all!

CV Boosters Support Climb Up for Down Syndrome

corig — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 01:04:43 +0000

On Janary 14, 2011 the Cumberland Valley Girls’ Basketball team played ball to support Climb Up for Down Syndrome. The team and the Boosters raised over $12,000!

The money they worked diligently to raise will help promote acceptance and awareness of people with Down syndrome in our community.

Thank you girls!

Local woman to ‘Climb Up for Down Syndrome’

corig — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 22:25:51 +0000

By Erica Dolson, Sentinel Reporter, January 13, 2011

As an early intervention speech pathologist, Emily Player has seen her young clients struggle with basic tasks, from making sounds to speaking.

“They struggle every day with the simplest things,” Player said. “(I) never experienced that except through the eyes of a therapist.”

That was before she began training for Climb Up for Down Syndrome, her eight-day, 19,340-foot ascent to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro.

On Wednesday, Player left for Africa, taking with her clothing that she could wear in both the 80-degree heat and humidity at the base of the mountain and the below-freezing temperatures at the peak, and a banner from the Central Pennsylvania Down Syndrome Awareness Group (CPADSAG), the local organization that her climb will benefit.

Player approached Brian Guillaume, CPADSAG’s president and co-founder, nearly two years ago to pitch the idea.

“My original reaction was, this could be a huge fundraiser for our group,” Guillaume said.

CPADSAG was founded about three years ago with the mission of promoting acceptance and awareness of Down syndrome and empowering individuals with Down syndrome to meet and exceed their dreams.

The organization runs solely on donations and sponsors community social events, family focus nights and a grant program for individuals with Down syndrome.

So far, Player has raised about $5,100 of her $20,000 goal, she said.

Player’s son Jared is named for one of her former clients with Down syndrome.

“He (that client) just brings a smile to my face,” she said. “Great sense of humor. He love(s) life.”

All of Player’s clients with Down syndrome have a zest for life, and often a stubborn streak, she said.

“They just embrace life. They’re game for anything,” she said. “The reason I chose this group is I’ve seen the impact they made on the children in my case load.”

Through her work in early intervention, Player has met children who attended a music class or received physical therapy equipment through CPADSAG’s grant program and families who received support and became part of a network because of the family focus nights and social events, she said.

“I can’t say I know what it feels like to walk in… (these) families’ shoes, but I hope that my efforts in getting ready for this climb will be seen as a symbolic gesture of the supreme efforts these families make each and every day,” Player said in a statement.

To train, Player has worked with a trainer for a couple of days each week and hiked the Flat Rock Trail near Newville, the highest altitude change in our area, she said.

“It’s not much compared to Kilimanjaro, but it’s what I had to work with,” she said. “I think I’ve done everything I can do prepare.”

Player will be in Africa until Jan. 28.