![\"GiGi's](\"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/syracuse\/files\/2017\/07\/Rachael.jpg\")
<\/p>\nWhy do we run, walk and dash for Down syndrome? Because ACCEPTANCE MATTERS. Because EMPOWERMENT MATTERS. Because LOVE MATTERS. We can’t wait to run, walk, dash and celebrate with you! This family friendly event will be rocking\u2019 all day with new friends, returning families, and HUGE HEARTS! Don\u2019t miss out! The entire community is welcome!<\/p>\n
Your generous donations will fund existing programs like our1-on-1 Literacy Tutoring, Karate Kickers,Gluten-Free Cooking, Leaps and Bounds, and more!<\/p>\n
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I have been volunteering at GiGi\u2019s Playhouse for 3 years. I love every moment of it! It is a place full of passionate people who spread their contagious positivity, love and kindness.<\/p>\n
I have learned so much and have gained many wonderful friends who inspire me to be more loving and understanding. I urge anyone looking to make an impact and wanting to be impacted themselves, to volunteer<\/a> there.<\/p>\n I am so glad that Heather asked me to write this blog post about volunteering and why I will be participating in the 6th annual 5k event for GiGi’s Playhouse Syracuse this year, because it caused me to stop and think and remind myself about what GiGi\u2019s Playhouse is all about and why I love it.<\/p>\n I was just about to go for a run after not having run in over a week and I was down on myself about it. I kept thinking about how poorly I would do, and how much better I had to get before the 5k when I got the message from Heather asking me to write about why I am participating in the 5k. I felt guilty because I realized just how much I got caught up in being competitive, telling myself I needed to reach a certain standard and that I had to succeed and to look in-shape.<\/p>\n There is nothing wrong with wanting to be the best we can be, but at GiGi\u2019s Playhouse we are here to love and support and tell society that you do NOT need to be a certain way, but are PERFECT the way you are. By thinking this way about the 5k I was undermining what I believe in and teach at GiGi\u2019s. I don’t want my friends with Down syndrome (or without) to feel badly about themselves because they feel like they need to fit society\u2019s mold. I want inclusion, love and support and I want them to love and celebrate themselves for who they are, and take pride in what they do and what they achieve, therefore I need to have the same mindset about myself! We all give our #bestofall and that should be celebrated!<\/p>\n That is WHY I am participating in the 5k – because celebrating and accepting each-other no matter our abilities is important. I am fighting for the acceptance of my friends with Down syndrome and fighting against the stigma of what society thinks they are able to achieve. I am running (or walking..I might even need to be dragged by the end) because GiGi\u2019s Playhouse really matters to the community and makes the world a better, more loving place. This 5k is no longer a race to me – it is a celebration. Please participate in the 5k and celebrate what makes each and everyone one of us so, so special.<\/p>\n Thank you Rachael! If you are looking for a team, GiGi’s Avengers would love to have you! Click HERE <\/strong><\/span>to join or support Rachael’s efforts to raise awareness and needed funds so that the amazing volunteers who help GiGi’s deliver the very best programing to families, at no cost to them, has all the tools they need! Together we are making a huge difference!<\/p>\n educate.inspire.believe.<\/strong><\/p>\n SaveSave<\/p>\n SaveSave<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Why do we run, walk and dash for Down syndrome? Because ACCEPTANCE MATTERS. Because EMPOWERMENT MATTERS. Because LOVE MATTERS. We can’t wait to run, walk, dash and celebrate with you! This family friendly event will be rocking\u2019 all day with new friends, returning families, and HUGE HEARTS! Don\u2019t miss out! The entire community is welcome!…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":58,"featured_media":71297,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wpo365_audiences":[],"wpo365_private":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-71295","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/syracuse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71295","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/syracuse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/syracuse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/syracuse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/58"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/syracuse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=71295"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/syracuse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71295\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/syracuse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/71297"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/syracuse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=71295"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/syracuse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=71295"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/syracuse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=71295"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"\"](\"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/syracuse\/files\/2017\/07\/Rachael-GenG-300x300.jpg\")
<\/p>\nWanting to start your own Team?! Wait no longer! Click HERE<\/a> and get your team up today!<\/h3>\n
![\"GiGi's](\"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/syracuse\/files\/2016\/05\/genG-150x150.png\")
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