 ® In-door Football Tournament
22nd April, Dynamo stadium
|
 Improving the quality of life for Russian children with Down syndromeExpress News Downside Up
March 2011
|
photo by Vladimir Mishukov
Tutta Larsen and Varya Verhova
|
|
Dear Friends,
The long-awaited spring is in at last! Many people adore this season and it is more than understandable why. Spring is the time of change when the earth comes back to life and the green world begins to return after its winter slumber. The time when everyone hopes that good things will happen and life will change for the better. But we must remember that each and every one of us can turn into a magician, albeit briefly – smile to strangers in the street, share a home-made cake with colleagues or support a “sunny child”. We have a couple of charitable events for you in March: the Spring Football Tournament and Garage Dobra Sale. Take part and improve the life of children with Down syndrome!
May all your spring hopes come true!
In this issue:
|
|
21st of March (21.03) is World Down syndrome day. Why it is celebrated on this day is easy to explain: the date was chosen to signify the relevance of Trisomy 21. (3/21).
World Down syndrome is recognised and celebrated worldwide to acknowledge the communities of people with Down Syndrome. Official programmes usually include seminars and conferences for professionals and various awareness raising events. But how can an ordinary person participate in marking this day? In a variety of ways: by not turning away when he/she meets a person with Down syndrome; by feeling at ease at such encounter. By encouraging your baby to play with a child with Down syndrome, instead of sneaking away from children playground. By greeting with a smile a mother with such a child. By always having in mind that all people are different.
World Down syndrome Day can be celebrated not only in word, but also in deed - by organizing a charity concert at your company’s office or a cooking contest at your child’s school, and contributing the funds raised towards helping children with special needs. Any other ideas? Please, email them to abatyaeva@downsideup.org.
|
photo by Vladimir Mishukov
|
Spring Football Tournament has been our annual event for 6 years now. It gives corporate participants a perfect opportunity to meet and mingle in a friendly atmosphere, to demonstrate their football skills and, most importantly, to do good by supporting children with special needs. This year’s spring tournament will be held at 3pm on 17th April at the Dynamo Football Stadium. We promise free admission for fans and supporters and souvenirs for all the football players. Furthermore, we prepared a special surprise for everyone!
1,530,000.00 rubles, which is equal to approx. 34 105 quid were raised last year in aid of children with Down syndrome thanks to the tournament participants. We hope that this year our sport initiative will be supported not only by the old friends, but by many new participants as well and the Spring Tournament will be even more successful.
|
 |
This year Tigroom studio has decided to dedicate the event to the forthcoming anniversary of Yuri Gagarin’s legendary space flight on board the Vostok spaceship. We have ambitious plans to create a true-life space environment at Garage Dobra for our guests.
Do you wish to purchase a piece of jewelry made of genuine meteorites? Or taste cosmic food traditionally served in tubes? Or take a look at geckos which travelled into space? These and many other fantastic art objects will be put on sale for you at Garage Dobra.
The event will be hosted by the company Tekhnologiya Igr and Downside Up Charitable Fund. All the funds raised will benefit Downside Up early intervention programmes for children with Down syndrome.
|
 |
The Russian newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda published an article by Alexandra Mayantseva about what some people think about individuals with Down syndrome. The article is a replica to a provocative statement posted by a girl in her blog: «Growing children with Down syndrome is like eating rotten potatoes only because you don’t have the heart to throw them away”. The girl prescribes Spartan methods for babies who are born to be different, and first and foremost, for children with Down syndrome. She honestly believes that wasting efforts, time and money on raising such children is downright silly. Such an opinion has initiated a heated discussion on the Internet which has demonstrated that the girl has many supporters. We believe that this is a dangerous message for society. And what do you think about it? You can write to us at abatyaeva@downsideup.org.
|
 |
On 23 February 2011 the annual charitable Russian Challenge Multirace took place at Bitsa Recreation Zone. We are happy to let you know that this year’s ski race has been the most successful one in Downside Up history! 12 teams united representatives of our partner companies and private participants. Thanks to ski race participants, 1,093,950.000 rubles have been raised in aid of early intervention programmes for children with Down syndrome. All the funds raised will benefit Downside Up home visiting service for Moscow families and consultations for families from further-a-field.
We would like to convey our thanks to all of you who helped to make the event a success: to the corporate donors, volunteers, supporters, families of children with Down syndrome and Downside Up team members. We hope that everyone who came to Bitsa on that day –skiers, organisers or fans - had a great time and left with a feeling they were part of a big team of like-minded people working for a good cause!
Looking forward to seeing you next year!
For photos please follow the link
|
 |
|
|
