UTICA, N.Y. — The 21 Club of Central New York hosted a lively celebration for World Down Syndrome Day at the Delta Hotels by Marriott.
Several people with Down syndrome from the area and their families attended the event, which featured music, dancing and plenty of food and drinks.
Organizers encouraged everyone to wear colorful or mismatched socks to highlight the uniqueness of friends and loved ones with Down syndrome.
“Chromosomes under a microscope look a lot like colorful socks and since Down syndrome is a chromosomal disorder, we ask people to rock their socks. They wear different colored mismatched socks to celebrate the day. It also serves as a conversation starter to talk about World Down Syndrome Day” Mary Radel, president of the CNY21 Club, said.
World Down Syndrome Day takes place on March 21, or 3/21, because the most common form of Down syndrome happens when a person has an extra, or third, copy of their 21st chromosome.