Last week Saturday, November 4, Festac Town, Lagos, came to a standstill when Moyinoluwa Rainbow Foundation aka Mo-Rainbow Down Syndrome Ability Centre held an awareness walk in order to create awareness about Down Syndrome tagged: Moving Bodies for Down Syndrome.

The walk, which kicked off by 7am at Holy Family Catholic Church, Festac Town, terminated at the secretariat of Mo-Rainbow Foundation located on 112 Road, Festac Town.

Speaking on what inspired the walk, founder of the platform, Adetola Olusola Makinde said: “Today we are here to create awareness about Down Syndrome. Down Syndrome is not a disease, it is not a terrible thing. It is just that these lovely kids have an extra chromosome. Please bring your kids to us and stop hiding them. Early intervention is key if these kids are to live a normal and healthy life.

“Our walkathon is a time where Mo-Rainbow Down Syndrome Ability Centre, its members and supporters engage in a power walk around a chosen community to raise awareness about Down Syndrome. This children can live a normal life if there is early intervention. The first three years are very crucial for kids living with Down Syndrome.”

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Speaking, another mother who partook in the walk, Ladejo Oluwatoyin said: “I am a proud mother of a four year old Down Syndrome child. her name is Esther. I feel excited about this walk because we are integrating this children into society. Many parents are reluctant to  bring their wards out because of the stigmatisation. However, they have to bring them out because it is God that gave us this children. We have to love, care and nurture them so that we can have peace at the end of the day. We can improve their lives.”

For another mothers, Shade Olusanya: “I partook in this walk because we can save these children and the only way is to show them love instead of hiding them. I have a 10 year-old daughter with Down Syndrome. her name is Mayowa. Please, I am calling on parents with kids living with Down syndrome to bring them out and ignore all the superstition surrounding this condition; they are lovely kids.”

Down syndrome also known as trisomy 21, is a genetic disorder caused by the presence of all or part of a third copy of chromosome 21.It is typically associated with physical growth delays, characteristic facial features and mild to moderate intellectual disability.