NEW YORK, NY (August 30, 2021) – The National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS), the leading human rights organization for all individuals with Down syndrome, is preparing to take on a new kind of running challenge this weekend. Run for 3.21 LALV is a 50+ hour relay that will cover 340 miles from Los Angeles to Las Vegas through the California desert. Beginning on Friday, September 3, the event will raise funds for NDSS programs that support and advocate for the Down syndrome community.
Over the Labor Day weekend, a team of 10 runners will traverse a demanding course, day and night, in the extreme heat of the desert on varying terrain. The event will be highlighted on NDSS social media and can be tracked live on the Questify app: https://www.questify.ai/quest/runfor321-la-lv-ndss
“The Run for 3.21 is more than just a running event,” says Kandi Pickard, President and CEO of NDSS. “The way a multi-day relay tests each of our runners echoes the way our loved ones with Down syndrome overcome barriers on a daily basis. The team’s commitment to a better future for individuals with Down syndrome becomes the fuel that keeps them going despite the grueling physical and mental toll that this event takes. It’s inspiring and humbling to witness their hard work to advance the mission of NDSS.”
Since 2018, NDSS has organized an annual Run for 3.21 relay between New York City and Washington, D.C. For this fifth event, NDSS wanted to provide a unique opportunity for the community to take on a new challenge. The Run for 3.21 LALV team includes veteran Run for 3.21 participants and new runners hailing from seven states across the country . Team members include: Chris Attig, Kristen Buff, Casey Craig, Jaime Durant, Tabitha Heit, Justin Knapp, Virginia (Gina) Mannion, Ray Pickard, Michelle Ray and Bobby Tran.
Individuals or organizations wishing to support Team NDSS can do so online: https://give.ndss.org/campaign/west-coast-run-for-3-21/c338694
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ABOUT NDSS
The National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) is the leading human rights organization for all individuals with Down syndrome. NDSS envisions a world in which all people with Down syndrome have the opportunity to enhance their quality of life, realize their life aspirations and become valued members of welcoming communities. Founded in 1979, NDSS supports and advocates for the Down syndrome community by focusing on three key areas of programming: Resources & Support, Policy & Advocacy and Community Engagement. Within these focus areas NDSS engages in various activities, events and programs such as the advocacy and public policy program, which seeks to create systemic change through engaged advocacy; the National Buddy Walk® Program, which honors and celebrates individuals with Down syndrome in local communities across the world, and other initiatives that provide support, informational resources and community engagement opportunities for individuals with Down syndrome and those who support them. Visit www.ndss.org for more information about NDSS.