Hugging the White Tower with PAOK FC #MorethanFootball
Children and adults of PAOK joined hands around the White Tower on World Down Syndrome Day, sending their message of solidarity and their need to hug people with Down Syndrome.
World Down Syndrome Day
World Down Syndrome Day was established in 2006, following the initiative of Greek Dr Stylianos Antonarakis, Professor of Genetics at Gevena Medical School, in his effort to sensitize and inform the international community about Down Syndrome.
Down Syndrome is caused by the presence of a third copy of chromosome 21. It occurs in about one per 600-700 babies born each year
John Langdon Down was the first to fully describe the syndrome in 1866. The British doctor put forward the theory that some babies were born with facial features resembling those of the Mongolian race and as a result Down Syndrome was then known as “Mongolism”, a name that has been dropped nowadays.
Children with Down Syndrome face intellectual disabilities and have an increased risk of various health problems. With proper education and the cooperation between parents and professors, they can acquire the skills to become active members of society.
It was decided to select the date of 21 March as a symbolic date for World Down Syndrome Day (3rd copy of chromosome 21 = 21.3)
Browse paokfc.gr for exclusive photography from the event held around the White Tower.
