KMK Staff Rock Their Socks for World Down Syndrome Day

   Thu, 21st Mar, 2019

To celebrate World Down Syndrome Day, the office staff in KMK Metals Recycling donned their most bright and colourful socks today, March 21st, raising €200 for the Offaly Down Syndrome Association.

Wearing loud or odd socks to mark World Down Syndrome Day today, is because they look a bit like chromosomes, and people with Down syndrome have an extra chromosome (making 47 altogether).

Down Syndrome Ireland (DSI) is launching a new booklet today, which is intended to be a resource for parents with a pre- or postnatal diagnosis of Down syndrome for their baby.

It has also launched a video for new parents, called ‘Having a child with Down syndrome’. On Sunday 24 March, it will hold its fourth annual Purple Run, which is held to raise funds for DSI.

There are about 7,000 people in Ireland with Down syndrome, and DSI works with about 3,500 of them. DSI says that children with Down syndrome can have increased risk of certain health issues, such as congenital heart defects and hearing, vision, thyroid and respiratory problems.

As the life expectancy of people with Down syndrome is increasing, it’s hugely important that the living and learning needs of people who have Down syndrome are supported, says DSI.

Don’t worry if you didn’t remember to wear your odd socks today. You can join KMK and other local schools and businesses by texting ODS to 50300 to donate €2.00 and then post a photo of your socks using the hashtag #rockyoursocks4ODS.

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