RunDown 5K for Down Syndrome Awareness recently presented over $1000 in games, tools and other educational supplies to benefit children with Down Syndrome and other special needs to both DeKalb County School system special needs programs and Smith County special needs programs.
RunDown 5K and FunRun was started in the Spring of 2015 by Addison Oakley, who at the time was an 8th grade student at DeKalb West Elementary in Liberty. Addison and her family have been blessed with connections to Down Syndrome children, who are close friends and family members and wanted to bring awareness in rural areas to the need to provide resources to children with Down Syndrome and other special needs that are often missed by not living in a larger metropolitan area. They have worked with support in DeKalb & Smith County as well as the support of Down Syndrome Association of Middle TN (DSAMT) and would hope to reach out into other rural counties as well in the future. Through the help of friends, family, and strangers, they had over 200 participants and strong sponsors for our 2015 5K & Fun Run and were also able to give $250 scholarships to DeKalb, Gordonsville, and Smith County High Schools.
If you are interested in helping this cause, or would like to donate or become a sponsor, please contact us at rundown5k@gmail.com or Clark Oakley @ 615-548-4624. Our 2016 5K and FunRun will be October 1st taking place at DeKalb West Elementary, 101 Bulldog Ln, Liberty, TN. Mark your calendars and look for more info to come!
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