Manifesting a Better Future One 5K Step at a Time by Elena Croy, Writer/Editor + National Down Syndrome Society DS Ambassador

When Hope was born in 2015, I thought for sure that the world had Down syndrome all figured out. There was a reality show on A&E following seven young adults with DS who were thriving in Southern California. We had easy access to medical research and healthcare guidelines to ensure Hope would have the best start possible from the moment she took her first breath of air. She was treated with dignity through all of the interventions she required during her first few weeks of life, including cardiology, neonatology, cardiothoracic surgery, and intensive care. When she was well enough post-surgery, she got started on state-supported early intervention services.

But then, Hope started to get older and we grew a bit disillusioned. 

In 2018, we graduated from the incredible baby/toddler bubble we’d been incubating inside and entered public school, suddenly shocked to discover we had been dropped into a system governed by deficits. We lost valuable family-oriented therapeutic services. We accepted that it wasn’t normal to drive four hours to see a physician who specializes in Down syndrome, yet we did it anyway in order to access comprehensive medical care that was unavailable to us in New Jersey. And while we advocate for educational and social inclusion to this day, we realize we aren’t even in the hard season of raising a child with Down syndrome, because I hear the maze families have to navigate after their loved ones with disabilities turn twenty-one can be a labyrinth of bureaucratic red tape, not to mention an existence riddled with loneliness and isolation. 

GiGi’s Playhouse North Jersey

Last fall I shared with you the incredible news that we were approved as a startup location for GiGi’s Playhouse, and so much has happened since then. We hosted two giveback days at local restaurants, designed Down syndrome awareness pieces at Kendra Scott for a giveback night in January, ran a successful Superbowl pool, and partied hard with our community on Saturday, March 21, for World Down Syndrome Day. 

Now, GiGi’s Playhouse North Jersey will host our inaugural GiGi’s 5K – Dash for Down Syndrome on Saturday, June 13, a nationwide event dedicated to advancing acceptance, inclusion, and opportunity for individuals with Down syndrome. 

The community event will take place at Garret Mountain Reservation in Woodland Park, New Jersey, from 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., welcoming participants of all ages and abilities to walk, run, volunteer, and celebrate. The 5K - Dash for Down Syndrome is more than a race—it is a movement that brings communities together to recognize the value, contributions, and potential of individuals with Down syndrome while raising awareness of the importance of acceptance for all. 

We need volunteers

We are filling volunteer slots for our 5K - Dash for Down Syndrome and could use your energy during what will undoubtedly be a lively and inspiring Saturday morning. Please consider donating your time on June 13th by signing up here. This is an incredible opportunity for individuals, youth groups, Scouts, Unified Athletes, and outreach/giveback programs through schools, churches, and businesses. 

Sponsor our Believe in Our Build campaign

GiGi’s Playhouse is funded entirely by donors and sponsors, not just during this startup phase but also when we open our doors and begin providing FREE programming for individuals with Down syndrome and related disabilities and their families across the lifespan. You can get involved by: 

• signing up for our newsletter,

• volunteering your time, or

• making a donation. 

We are over 30% of our way to our Phase I goal of $100,000. With many sponsorship opportunities available, you or your company can help us reach our goal so that we can do what we set out to do: build a space where everyone belongs. 

Adult participants preparing a meal at their Playhouse’s cooking club.

GiGi’s Playhouse is the only international network of Down Syndrome Achievement Centers providing free educational, therapeutic, and career-development programs for individuals with Down syndrome of all ages. Founded in 2003, the organization has grown to 62 locations across the United States and Mexico while serving families in more than 80 countries through its Virtual Playhouse platform. With demand for more than 200 additional locations worldwide, GiGi’s Playhouse continues its mission to change the way the world views Down syndrome and to promote a global message of acceptance for all. 

GiGi’s Playhouse supports participants through the entire lifespan, and participants support each other through community.

Visit Website

Elena Croy with Hope + Henry | At Her Own Pace

Elena Croy is an ordinary mom learning life’s lessons from her two extraordinary children. She and her husband are raising their little girl, who has Down syndrome, and their son, who was born with upper limb differences, in Ridgewood. Elena chronicles their challenges, triumphs, and goofiness at AtHerOwnPace.com. Elena is proud to serve as a grassroots Down syndrome advocate for the National Down Syndrome Society.