Lincoln City youth cheerleaders recently walked Taft 7-12’s track to raise awareness and support Down syndrome Awareness Month.
The group of young girls who took to the track Oct. 12, believe in “focusing on equality and how people with any condition can contribute to their community while living a life with many opportunities.”
“Noe Hernandez, (pictured above, center) is a big part of the cheerleading team,” coach Tonia Anderson said. “We celebrate the fact that he is living his life to the fullest against all odds. We teach our team to celebrate abilities rather than disabilities.”
From the National Down syndrome Society website:
What is Down Syndrome?
In every cell in the human body there is a nucleus, where genetic material is stored in genes. Genes carry the codes responsible for all of our inherited traits and are grouped along rod-like structures called chromosomes. Typically, the nucleus of each cell contains 23 pairs of chromosomes, half of which are inherited from each parent. Down syndrome occurs when an individual has a full or partial extra copy of chromosome 21.
This additional genetic material alters the course of development and causes the characteristics associated with Down syndrome. A few of the common physical traits of Down syndrome are low muscle tone, small stature, an upward slant to the eyes, and a single deep crease across the center of the palm – although each person with Down syndrome is a unique individual and may possess these characteristics to different degrees, or not at all.
For information on the National Buddy Walk Program click below:
