A Day of Joy, Unity, and Inclusion: Dash for Down Syndrome 2025 Recap

While the skies were gray and the air a little chilly, nothing could dampen the spirit of our incredible community at this year’s Dash for Down Syndrome! Families, friends, volunteers, and supporters bundled up, showed up, and proved once again that we are stronger together.

From the moment check-in opened, the GiGi’s energy was in full swing! Participants were welcomed with music, bright chalk drawings, and cheers from our incredible volunteer team. The excitement was contagious as teams gathered with custom t-shirts, yard signs, and plenty of smiles to show off their GiGi’s pride.

Event Highlights:

• Kids Dash: Little feet raced with big smiles during the Kids Dash, filling the course with laughter, energy, and joy.
• 5k Run: Whether you sped across the finish line or took a joyful stroll, every step was taken in support of acceptance.
• Walk for Acceptance: The Walk for Acceptance united families, friends, and advocates in a powerful show of love and inclusion for individuals with Down syndrome.
• Family Fun Zone: Kids enjoyed crafts, games, and dancing while adults connected with local vendors and community partners.
• Photo Moments: Thanks to our volunteer photographer, smiles and memories were captured. See photos HERE.
• Silly String Surprise! One of the most anticipated moments of the day? Watching Megan and Cameron get absolutely covered in silly string by some of our top fundraisers!

Special Recognition:

Congratulations to our fastest male runner, Alex Keller, and our fastest female runner, Bekah Stoneman! Bekah is no stranger to the Playhouse – she was one of our spring interns from Malone University, and it was such a joy to welcome her back!

Top Fundraising Teams:

-Team Ruey Morrett
-Adventures with Adilene
-Let’s Go, Liam!

Race Results:
Curious how you placed? Full results are available HERE.

Thanks to the incredible turnout and generosity of our community, this year’s Dash raised just shy of $40,000 to support our free therapeutic, educational, and career-development programs right here in Stark County. You can still help us reach our goal of $50,000 to support our FREE programs: visit our event page to keep making donations!

The Dash for Down Syndrome wasn’t just about the miles we walked/ran or the dollars we raised, but for our physical and social movement for acceptance. Whether you ran, walked, donated, volunteered, or cheered from the sidelines – thank you. You helped make this day unforgettable and meaningful for so many.

We’re already looking forward to Dash for Down Syndrome 2026! Until then, we invite you to stay connected, visit the Playhouse, and continue spreading the message of acceptance for all.