Waldorf, MD –
On Sunday, October 30, The Arc Southern Maryland held its second annual “Achieving Together 5K” event. Employees, community members, and people supported by The Arc Southern Maryland gathered in Waldorf for the “run, walk, or roll” for people of all abilities, which served as a way to raise both awareness and funds.
Jaxon Foote joined The Arc Southern Maryland as the Grand Marshal of the 5K event to lead the way for all the walkers. Jaxon is an energetic 13-year-old boy with Down syndrome that resides in Hughesville. According to his parents, Jaxon “is a ‘ham’ and loves being the center of attention.” When asked the reason for participating in the event, Jaxon’s parents said they wanted to “support The Arc of Southern Maryland and raise awareness.” Raising awareness is at the core of what The Arc strives to do as an organization which advocates for the civil rights of people with IDD.
Recently, the Charles County Commissioners proclaimed the day of the 5K event, October 30, 2016, as the “Day of Achieving Together with The Arc Southern Maryland.” In their proclamation, the Commissioners called for residents to “join in this special day by supporting the efforts and activities of The Arc Southern Maryland, and that every day be dedicated to the acceptance and inclusion of those with intellectual and developmental disabilities in our communities.”
The funds raised by the 5K event will help The Arc Southern Maryland to continue its support and services for people with IDD and their families. Amongst the many services provided by The Arc Southern Maryland are residential services, in which The Arc Southern Maryland provides adults with safe and supportive housing; vocational support services, in which individuals receive assistance with skill development, on-the-job training, and job placement; Autism Waiver services, providing individualized in-home support to children with Autism; and Pre-employment Transition Services(pre-ETS), which assists students between the ages of 14-21 in developing skills that will be needed to successfully transition from school to employment.
The Arc Southern Maryland plans to continue to create awareness through their 5K event annually. Their hope is that events like these will continue to promote inclusion and acceptance, while celebrating the value of people with IDD within the communities where they live, work, and play throughout Southern Maryland. To find out more about events like these, or to show your support, The Arc Southern Maryland invites you to visit their website and connect on social media.
About The Arc Southern Maryland:
The Arc Southern Maryland is a non-profit organization affiliated at the states level with The Arc of Maryland and at the national level with The Arc of the United States, which is the world’s largest grass roots organization of, and for, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), including Down syndrome, autism, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, cerebral palsy and other diagnoses. Since 1975, The Arc Southern Maryland has provided quality support and programs aimed at creating opportunities for independence and personal success for people with different abilities in inclusive communities. For information about The Arc Southern Maryland, call (410) 535-2413 or visit www.arcsomd.org.
