Run 4 Hope for Those on the Lifetime Journey of Down Syndrome
“It takes a special person to have faith,” says David Gazzola. And he would know.
14 years ago, his wife Dorothy suffered a miscarriage at the 3-month mark. Three years later, with another baby on the way, Dorothy told David, “I really feel that Faith would be a very significant name for our child.” At the time, she had no idea who this child would be. But when she was born, and the doctor told them their daughter might have Down syndrome, it immediately became clear: “That’s why we have a daughter named Faith,” says Dorothy.
Dorothy’s eyes light up as she describes her now 11-year-old daughter. “She just puts a smile on our face. She is exuberant, charismatic, full of so much humour; I just wish sometimes I could actually be inside her head just to know what’s going on in there, because her mind seems to always be moving.”
The family became acquainted with the Down Syndrome Research Foundation (DSRF) in 2006, when Dorothy attended the DSRF-hosted World Down Syndrome Congress. Shortly thereafter, Faith, who was minimally verbal, began regularly attending DSRF’s one-to-one-reading and speech therapy programs.
“They engage her through play in both reading and speech therapy,” explains Dorothy. “We need places like that. And for Faith, I don’t know that we would be where we are today with her without it.”
David agrees: “It’s just so refreshing that you’ve got a spot you can take her and somebody can take a different approach. She comes back as a happy person.”
As Faith’s potential is unleashed, she is proving that her family’s faith was well-placed indeed.
Every day, stories like Faith’s are written at DSRF. Individuals with Down syndrome have tremendous potential. Through DSRF’s innovative marriage of research and customized educational programming, students gain the skills and confidence to become contributing members of the community.
As you achieve your goal of competing in the BMO Vancouver Marathon, you can make dreams come true for individuals with Down syndrome and their families, by participating in the RUN4HOPE on behalf of the Down Syndrome Research Foundation.
As a DSRF Charity Runner, participants commit to raising a minimum of $250 dollars for the Down Syndrome Research Foundation. DSRF directly supports our runners to help make your fundraising a success. Specifically, DSRF will provide:
- a customized fundraising web page
- promotion through DSRF’s website, Facebook and Twitter
- regular e-mails from DSRF with fundraising tips and encouragement
- a DSRF “hand in hand” pin
- the satisfaction of helping young people with Down syndrome reach their full potential, and the greatest cheering section you can imagine during the race
Please join us, and run hand in hand with Faith, and all those on the lifetime journey of Down syndrome.
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Down Syndrome Research Foundation
Helping Individuals with Down Syndrome Reach Their Full Potential
Our mission is to empower individuals with Down syndrome to reach their full potential throughout life by pioneering and providing educational programs and services, grounded in foundational research. Working with researchers, professionals and families, we are a bridge between research and practice.
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