{"id":142101,"date":"2025-06-19T10:56:41","date_gmt":"2025-06-19T14:56:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/canton\/?p=142101"},"modified":"2025-06-19T10:56:41","modified_gmt":"2025-06-19T14:56:41","slug":"a-day-of-joy-unity-and-inclusion-dash-for-down-syndrome-2025-recap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/canton\/2025\/06\/19\/a-day-of-joy-unity-and-inclusion-dash-for-down-syndrome-2025-recap\/","title":{"rendered":"A Day of Joy, Unity, and Inclusion: Dash for Down Syndrome 2025 Recap"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While the skies were gray and the air a little chilly, nothing could dampen the spirit of our incredible community at this year\u2019s Dash for Down Syndrome! Families, friends, volunteers, and supporters bundled up, showed up, and proved once again that we are stronger together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From the moment check-in opened, the GiGi&#8217;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\u2019s pride.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"960\" src=\"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/canton\/files\/2025\/06\/Malik.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-142102\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/canton\/files\/2025\/06\/Malik.jpg 720w, https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/canton\/files\/2025\/06\/Malik-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"960\" src=\"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/canton\/files\/2025\/06\/crossing-the-finish-line.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-142103\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/canton\/files\/2025\/06\/crossing-the-finish-line.jpg 720w, https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/canton\/files\/2025\/06\/crossing-the-finish-line-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"960\" src=\"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/canton\/files\/2025\/06\/Zoe-medal.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-142104\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/canton\/files\/2025\/06\/Zoe-medal.jpg 720w, https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/canton\/files\/2025\/06\/Zoe-medal-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Event Highlights:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Kids Dash: Little feet raced with big smiles during the Kids Dash, filling the course with laughter, energy, and joy.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>5k Run: Whether you sped across the finish line or took a joyful stroll, every step was taken in support of acceptance.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>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.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Family Fun Zone: Kids enjoyed crafts, games, and dancing while adults connected with local vendors and community partners.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Photo Moments: Thanks to our volunteer photographer, smiles and memories were captured. See photos <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/media\/set\/?set=a.1135040055329585&amp;type=3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>HERE<\/strong><\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>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! <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:42% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"496\" height=\"667\" src=\"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/canton\/files\/2025\/06\/fastest-runners2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-142105 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/canton\/files\/2025\/06\/fastest-runners2.jpg 496w, https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/canton\/files\/2025\/06\/fastest-runners2-223x300.jpg 223w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 496px) 100vw, 496px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Special Recognition:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Congratulations to our fastest male runner, Alex Keller, and our fastest female runner, Bekah Stoneman! Bekah is no stranger to the Playhouse &#8211; she was one of our spring interns from Malone University, and it was such a joy to welcome her back!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Top Fundraising Teams:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">-Team Ruey Morrett<br>-Adventures with Adilene<br>-Let&#8217;s Go, Liam!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Race Results:<\/strong><br>Curious how you placed? Full results are available <a href=\"https:\/\/runsignup.com\/Race\/Results\/165651#resultSetId-554121;perpage:100\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>HERE<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-fl-body-bg-color has-fl-accent-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-elements-e77a0cc3e8de66ed1dad5018c9a43385 wp-block-paragraph\">Thanks to the incredible turnout and generosity of our community, this year\u2019s 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 <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/support.gigisplayhouse.org\/gigifit-acceptance-challenge-2025\/event\/canton-gigifit-acceptance-challenge-2025?_gl=1*w3e03x*_gcl_aw*R0NMLjE3NDkxMzg5OTkuQ2owS0NRandnSVhDQmhEQkFSSXNBRUxDOVpodUtsZ19lZnQwNDNkZi1CRWRzNFcxcGJUWmFPdDRYMFppdDQxbW5xaHBLLWo5X3RwbTF3NGFBZ3lFRUFMd193Y0I.*_gcl_au*MTA2OTgxNTUyMC4xNzQ3MTQyNDAx*_ga*NTY1NzYyMDcyLjE3MjQxODEzODE.*_ga_CVBL42Z351*czE3NTAzNDIxMTMkbzM1NyRnMSR0MTc1MDM0MjE1MSRqMjIkbDAkaDA.\">event page<\/a> <\/strong>to keep making donations!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-fl-body-bg-color has-fl-accent-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-elements-a78f43ff38015a64b2b3574407dc18e7 wp-block-paragraph\">The Dash for Down Syndrome wasn\u2019t 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 &#8211; thank you. You helped make this day unforgettable and meaningful for so many.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-fl-body-bg-color has-fl-accent-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-elements-8f08f1dbf18923598b91f12bd9907fb6 wp-block-paragraph\">We\u2019re 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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>While the skies were gray and the air a little chilly, nothing could dampen the spirit of our incredible community at this year\u2019s 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&#8217;s energy was in&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1472,"featured_media":142104,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wpo365_audiences":[],"wpo365_private":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,579,601],"tags":[610,390,341,389,605,10,416,377,7,609,520],"class_list":["post-142101","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-awareness","category-events","category-featured-events","tag-5k","tag-acceptance","tag-appreciation","tag-awareness","tag-dash-for-down-syndrome","tag-down-syndrome","tag-event","tag-fundraiser","tag-gigis-playhouse","tag-run","tag-walk"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/canton\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/142101","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/canton\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/canton\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/canton\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1472"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/canton\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=142101"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/canton\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/142101\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/canton\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/142104"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/canton\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=142101"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/canton\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=142101"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/canton\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=142101"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}