Opus is pleased to assist the Down Syndrome Research Foundation (DSRF) with its national marketing campaign, Helping Hands. An important part of the campaign involves obtaining handprints from the various members of our arts, media, entertainment, sports and government communities, and auctioning them off in public and online as a kick-off to celebrating International Down Syndrome Awareness Day on March 21. Opus is proud to be supplying the materials for these handprints.

The DSRF was formed in 1995—established to address the need for community-based research. The organization is a catalyst for leading researchers, educators and clinicians dedicated to the investigation of Down syndrome. A significant amount of this important work takes place in their beautiful, Burnaby-based centre.

Down syndrome (Trisomie 21) is a genetic disorder caused by an extra 21st chromosome, resulting in health issues and developmental delays. Research has advanced knowledge and brought about huge changes over the last twenty years, and the potential for people with Down syndrome continues to increase with the level of knowledge available. Babies born with Down syndrome in Canada is rising. Since 1985, the number of babies being born with Down syndrome has increased to 1 in 500 from 1 in 1,000.

In answer to increased demand for information by parents and their primary care physicians, the Down Syndrome Research Foundation is embarking on this new fundraising initiative. Helping Hand online is a research and information resource that can be accessed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It is designed to provide accurate, factual information about Down syndrome and counter the numerous stereo-typical perceptions related to the condition. This new initiative is a parent and physician support program designed to address the increased need for information driven by the rising incidence of babies born with Down syndrome in Canada.

Increased medical testing during pregnancy—the ability to test fetuses for the Down syndrome gene, has created questions and concerns for many expectant parents faced with a positive test. Research indicates that as many as 7% can be false positives. Parents need factual information when faced with test results. It can be a confusing time and expecting parents can often be bombarded with opinion and misinformation. Helping Hand online will provide a central resource with the most up-to-date information available.

The marketing campaign which will help raise awareness of Down syndrome and the Foundation will also help raise funds for this help line. The DSRF is already providing assistance to families and prospective parents, and this new initiative will help build the infrastructure for ongoing support of these services, as well as help promote the service to the public.

For more information about Down syndrome or Helping Hand, please visit DSRF's website at www.dsrf.org

Special feature by guest contributor Dawn McKenna, Director, Finance and Administration, Down Syndrome Research Foundation