Down Syndrome Research and Treatment Foundation's plus15 campaign

From Julie of the Down Syndrome Research and Treatment Foundation:

I'm writing from the plus15 campaign, which is the Down Syndrome Research and Treatment Foundation's campaign to spread the word about Down syndrome cognition research.  DSRTF supports research to improve learning, memory, and speech in people with Down syndrome, with the goal of greater independence and increased cognitive ability for our loved ones.

We're excited about World Down Syndrome Day and have planned a few ways to celebrate.  We wanted to reach out and let you know, in the hope that you might share our excitement and pass the word along to your community.

Here's what we have going on:

• 3-to-1 donation matching on 3/21.  Give to DSRTF on 3/21, and your donation will be matched 3:1, thanks to the generous support of one of our funders.  This is an incredible one-day opportunity to maximize your donation to DSRTF.  Please mark your calendars and give! $15 becomes $60, $25 becomes $100, and every bit counts. You can donate here: http://www.dsrtf.org/donate

• Webinar.  In honor of World Down Syndrome Day, DSRTF is hosting a special webinar with Dr. Roger Reeves of Johns Hopkins University.  As you may know, Dr. Reeves is a leading researcher in the area of Down syndrome, having studied it for over 25 years. DSRTF is a proud supporter of Dr. Reeves’ work, and we hope you will join us for this one-hour webinar about Down syndrome cognition research on Wednesday, March 21 at 10:00 AM PT/1:00 PM ET. Sign up here: http://plus15.webex.com/mw0306ld/mywebex/default.do?siteurl=plus15

• plus15's World Map.  What would an increase in cognitive ability mean to you and your loved one with Down syndrome? plus15 is creating a world map — available here: http://www.dsrtf.org/plus15/3-21map  —  with testimonies, photos and videos to show the world, and our legislators, the importance of cognition research in providing greater opportunity to those with DS.  To participate, send your first name, city/state, a video or a photo, and a note that completes the following sentence:  "A 15 percent increase in cognition means that my (son/daughter, etc.) could _____________."  Upload to our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/plus15 or send it via e-mail to julie@dsrtf.org.  Together we'll put Down syndrome on the map.

Grassroots support is essential to efforts like ours, and we count on word of mouth — or in this case, word of blog — to help spread the word about what we do.

You can visit our web site for more info about plus15 and DSRTF, and of course I'd be happy to answer any questions you might have.