Dear Friends and Family-

Imagine a sunny Fall day, filled with blue skies and a cool breeze.  Imagine you are driving into Arrowhead Stadium where hundreds of cars are parked and thousands of people dressed in bright colorful t-shirts have descended onto the parking lot.  Imagine a place where children are playing on ginormous pump-up toys, listening to Radio Disney, all waiting their turn to catch a glimpse of a Kansas City Chiefs player,  the Chik-Fil-A cow or KC Wolf.  The smell of food, the sound of music and bursts of laughter are mingling in the air.  And imagine for this moment every single person in attendance is celebrating your child with Down syndrome.  For this, the Step Up Walk is so important to us.

Raising money for this outstanding organization is near and dear to our hearts.  They have provided our family with emotional support, educational resources as well as many social opportunities.  Please join us this year as we support this wonderful organization.

We hope to see you at this amazing event!

Love,

Jen, Doug and Avery Crable

Are you Ready to Step Up for Down Syndrome? Did you know that each year 5,000 babies are born with Down syndrome and that there are over 400,000 individuals living with Down syndrome in the United States?

These families depend heavily on local support organizations to receive information, resources and education. They also appreciate and benefit from ongoing advocacy and awareness efforts which improve the lives of entire families and communities.

The Down Syndrome Guild of Greater Kansas City (DSG) serves over 1100 families and partners with 22 hospitals, 45 school districts and countless service providers in Kansas and Missouri. We invite you to Step Up and support our members and the work of the DSG by participating in one of the largest celebrations for Down syndrome in the nation. Our 2010 walk was a smashing success thanks to 300 teams, 6,800 walkers, and 400 volunteers!

Will you be there to help us cross the finish line this year?

Your participation in the walk shows you support inclusion and acceptance for people with Down syndrome and recognize their many gifts, talents and contributions to society. We envision a bright future with your help.

Each step you take and every dollar you raise will help the DSG continue to provide vital programs and services offering educational and social support to people with Down syndrome, their families and the professionals who serve them. Important work waits to be done to enhance research, education and advocacy programs. Your support is critical in making these programs a reality.

What difference can you make by Stepping Up?

 *   When you raise $100 you help DSG provide two families with hospital meal vouchers during extended hospital stays.

 *   When you raise $200 you help DSG provide a family experiencing a new diagnosis a welcome basket full of gifts and resources on Down syndrome.

 *   When you raise $250 you help DSG host a quarterly social activity for teens and adults with Down syndrome.

 *   When you raise $500 you help DSG host a quarterly support breakfast for parents and grandparents.

 *   When you raise $750 you help DSG provide conference scholarships to educators and professionals who support individuals with Down syndrome.

 *   When you raise $1000 you help DSG publish an issue of our award winning Connections Newsletter.

View DSG's Programs & Services Brochure, 2010 Annual Report and 2010 Year in Review Video to learn more about how the funds you raise are used to improve the lives of people with Down syndrome.

Never forget that your fundraising efforts truly change lives. If you can't make the walk, making a donation to the team is simple; just click on the "Donation to the Avery's Angels" link.

We thank you for your generous support of Avery's Angels and look forward to seeing you Saturday, October 29, 2011 at the Step Up for Down Syndrome Walk & Festival!