Friday, March 21, 2014

Governor's Residence To 'Go Blue' In March

Raising awareness of advancements being made in Down syndrome cognitive research, New Jersey First Lady Mary Pat Christie has announced that the Governor’s Official Residence, Drumthwacket, will be illuminated in blue Friday evening, March 21, to support the national Light the Way initiative. 

“I am pleased to once again participate in the national Light the Way effort,” said Mrs. Christie. “Vital research being done by organizations like Research Down Syndrome (RDS)are responsible for quality of life improvements for thousands of individuals with Down syndrome and their families here in New Jersey and across the country. Equally important, these advancements are empowering people with intellectual disabilities to live more independent and fulfilling lives.”

Light the Way is annually observed on World Down Syndrome Day, March 21, 2014. The date is meaningful because Down syndrome results from the presence of three copies of chromosome 21. Down syndrome is the most common chromosomal disorder, affecting over 400,000 in the United States. It occurs in approximately 1 in every 700 births.

Down syndrome cognitive research is a rapidly advancing area of research that holds great promise for improving memory, learning and communication for individuals of all ages with Down syndrome. The goal of the Light the Way program is to expand awareness of Down syndrome cognitive research, including the efforts of the non-profit foundation RDS to fund this research.

For more information, visit www.researchds.org or contact RDS at info@researchds.org

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