By Emily Bontrager
Native teen Elliot Dougherty will journey to Denver, Colorado as certainly one of 18 fashions for the International Down Syndrome Basis's annual “Be Lovely Be Your self” trend present. Elliot is 16 years previous and he and his household are from Taylor, MO. Elliot's mother and father are Tony and Kate Dougherty, and he has two sisters, Olivia and Ella. Elliot has Down syndrome however having an additional chromosome doesn't cease him from reaching his goals and residing a full life. He’s a freshman at Marion County R-II, the place he performs basketball and baseball. Elliot loves music and likes to play the trombone within the marching band. He additionally loves animals, looking, fishing, touring and is a folks individual. International's “Be Lovely Be Your self Trend Present” is the biggest fundraiser for Down syndrome on the earth. Many celebrities come out to boost consciousness and assist the fundraiser annually. This yr, a few of the celebrities embody Woody Harrelson, Sofia Sanchez, Jessica Biel, Laura Linney, Madison Tevlin and Bobby Farrelly. Over the previous 15 years, the fundraiser has raised greater than $28.5 million to assist with life-changing and life-saving analysis, healthcare, schooling and advocacy. “Down syndrome was the least funded space of analysis. Due to Down Syndrome International and Michelle Whitten and her rural outreach and plenty of of her different initiatives, they’ve elevated that quantity exponentially,” stated Elliot's mom, Kate Dougherty. “They’re, for lack of higher phrases, the Mayo Clinic for the Down syndrome neighborhood.” Yearly, tons of of individuals from throughout the nation apply to mannequin within the World Down Syndrome Trend Present. For 3 years, Elliot has utilized to look within the trend present. In June he realized that his utility had been accepted. On Saturday, November 16, Elliot will mannequin on stage on the occasion, which will probably be held on the Sheraton Denver Downtown Resort. A gaggle of Elliot's family and friends will journey to assist him. “Elliot is totally thrilled as a result of that is his alternative. “She's type of an consideration diva and he or she loves folks,” Kate stated. “It's actually fascinating to symbolize the Tri-States and our rural space as a result of it's a fairly fascinating group of youngsters and adults with Down syndrome.” If you need to study extra concerning the Be Lovely Be Your self Trend Present, donate, or sponsor a mannequin, you may go to bebeautifulbeyourself.org. Kate and her husband run a non-profit group referred to as Down Nation. Down Nation offers schooling within the tri-state space and promotes constructive consciousness for folks with disabilities. You may donate and study extra about Down Nation at upatdowncountry.com. Kate want to invite the general public to come back to the Washington Theater in Quincy, Illinois on Sunday, November 17th. The theater will display screen the film Champions at four:00 pm Champions is a sports activities comedy a few former basketball coach who takes orders from a courtroom to handle a workforce of disabled gamers. The movie stars Woody Harrelson and Madison Tevlin and is directed by Bobby Farrelly. This occasion is free for anybody who needs to attend.