Rock Your Socks Walk raises awareness for Down Syndrome

Adults and children with wacky socks and big smiles gathered at Bert Weeks Memorial Park for the Rock Your Socks Walk last weekend to raise awareness for Down Syndrome. 

Participants walked from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 20 to mark World Down Syndrome Day on March 21. The event was hosted by the Disability Studies Student Association from the University of Windsor. 

The D.S.S.A. is a student-run organization that works with and fundraises for individuals with disabilities and helps to make “both the campus and the community more accessible to everyone,” said Ailish O’Connor, a member of the D.S.S.A. and an organizer of the walk. This was the D.S.S.A.’s first event back since the start of the pandemic. For many members, this event is a special one. 

“For me, this [event] is really important because I have an uncle with Down Syndrome,” said O’Connor. “It’s a meaningful one for a lot of us I think.” 

The Rock Your Socks Walk celebrates the inclusion of people with Down Syndrome in everyday activities. 

“They’re people too and they’re capable of so much and all of them are so unique and awesome,” said O’Connor. 

Participants in the walk collected pledges, with all proceeds going to Up About Down – Windsor-Essex Down Syndrome Association.

 Any participant who raised at least $5 in pledges got a free mask or pair of socks at the event. The top three pledge earners could win prizes.  

Suzanne Cyr, president of Windsor-Essex Down Syndrome Association, said that the funds raised will go towards a new reading program, in addition to other programs. 

“This is a dream,” Cyr said, “We started with a small group of children from Grade 2 to Grade 8…they’re making beautiful gains already.” 

Cyr also wants families to recognize the benefit that individuals with Down Syndrome can bring to your life. 

“They need to realize they can have a wonderful life with their child with Down Syndrome,” Cyr said. “Our children bring so much joy to us. I mean there never is a day that goes by that we don’t laugh. Our son Andrew, he’s 33, he’s always making us laugh. We’re all better people, we’re more compassionate.”