Fundraising for Down Syndrome Cognition Research

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Down syndrome can not be prevented. It happens at conception, so if the chromosome isn't going to split correctly, it's not going to split correctly. There isn't anything you can do about that.

Yet money continues to be spent on prenatal testing and creating new tests that will detect Down syndrome earlier in pregnancies.

Life expectancy for individuals with Down syndrome has more than doubled over the last decade. Cognition research is imperative to help them lead more independent lives. Isn't that what all parents want for their kids? To be as independent as their abilities allow?

2010 NIH funding for Down syndrome was 22 million - near the bottom of the list. By comparison Parkinson's, MS, and Autism are all well over $100 million. Down syndrome funding is a minuscule .01 percent of the NIH's research budget. It equals out to be $55 per person; 95% less on average than what the government spends per person for similar disabilities. Cystic Fibrosis is almost $3K per person.

That's why the Down Syndrome Research and Treatment Foundation created the +15 campaign - to improve learning, memory, and speech for individuals with Down syndrome.

+15 is currently holding a fundraiser on Crowdrise with a goal of raising $20K to fund important Down syndrome cognition research. When you donate to the +15 campaign 100% of the money goes directly to cognitive research at major research centers around the country.

Please consider making a donation, not just to support Kayla, but to help with funding for cognition research for all the individuals living with Down syndrome. (FYI: Crowdrise automatically shows 10% of the donation amount as a tip, but this is not required. You can use the drop-down menu and select the option not to tip before confirming your donation.)

There are a few prizes to be won for the top fundraisers with the grand prize being an iPad. As much as I would love to win/have an iPad, I know there are others who would benefit more from having one. So if I were to win I would hold an auction for the iPad; just haven't figured out yet where I will donate the money from the auction. Perhaps for a family adopting from overseas ... so many choices!