DOWNSIDE UP
Everyone is aware that a child with Down’s syndrome has a life very different from normal. A non commercial organization ‘Downside Up’ was created in 1996 with the aim of helping children with Down’s syndrome. The main objectives were to help such children adapt to normal social life, prepare them to lead an independent life, enable easy communication with their peers, and allow them to attend kindergartens and schools. Downside Up also conducts scientific and methodological work, adapting foreign methodologies of rehabilitation to the Russian environment.
‘Sport for the welfare!’
11th Charity ‘Red Square’ Bike Ride ‘Sport for the welfare!’ or ‘How to use time, money and a bike in order to help children with Down syndrome in Russia’ took place in the Dmitrov’s area of the Moscow Region on 24th-27th August 2006 as a part of National initiative ‘2006 — a year of charity in Russia’.
Goals of the bike race were to raise money for the early aid centre for children with Down syndrome in Russia, to show abilities of these children and to unite efforts of state structures and business organizations in order to solve the social problem. This event has been the most successful bike ride in Downside Up history, raising over $140,000!
As an established usage PONY EXPRESS transferred a charitable contribution and Vlad Orlov, a representative of our company from Sales department took part in the Bike Ride.
Over the course of the next 2 days participants rode 166 km and competed in a variety of forest competitions. The participants noted ‘…the high level of the organization. Rests with interesting competitions and barbecued food have made especially great impression’.
Bike Ride’s results destroyed the myth of the learning disability of children with Down syndrome. As other children they go in for sports and creative works, speak foreign languages and work on computers. A 19-year-old Andrey Vostrikov from Voronezh, Russian national champion in gymnastics among the children with disabilities, took part in the Bike Ride along with all the others.
A culmination of the bike ride was a passage down the river-streets towards Red Square, where bikers were met by children’s families, friends and journalists. The theatre of child song ‘Domisol and co’ and clowns from art rehabilitation centre for orphans ‘Maria’s children’ took part in the holiday program.
There were most grateful supporters at the long-expected finish. Happy kids gave generous adults the most important thing — their will to victory. We hope that the contribution of PONY EXPRESS to the Downside Up program will help to change their lifes.
The Russian Challenge 2006
The 3rd Charity Ski Race to benefit Russian children with Down syndrome is over. This year it got a new name ‘The Russian Challenge’ and this name is perfectly justified, until the last few days before the race it was freezing cold and the organisers were worried whether the participants would come. Fortunately, on Saturday, 11th February it got warmer and only the most indecisive stayed at home. This year PONY EXPRESS has been represented by the candidate for the master of the sports, the keen skier and in combination the chief of a mail cargo warehouse, Vladimir Feoktistov. To support him were going the most desperate and cold-resistant employees of our company.
At about noon it all started: the skiers were getting personal numbers, spectators were gathering, organizers were fussing around, the tea was beginning to boil, and in the air one could feel the smell of barbecued meet. Parents and children for whom the event was organized were arriving.
The first start was given to the relay race of the corporate and family teams, they had to cover 4 500m laps. Right after the relay race the most prepared and persistent participants were off for the 5 and 10 km distances. 3 and 1 km distances skiers followed shortly after. We must note that the Ski Race attracts not just ski enthusiasts but those who by their financial contribution support children with Down syndrome, there are many expats among them and those who ski for the first time in their lives just to participate in our project.
The spectators, relatives and support groups didn't have to wait long, the finish was also fun, every participant was greeted by Andrey Gudalov, director of the Ski Race, senior trainer of the Russian triathlon team and the volunteers awarded the souvenirs. PONY EXPRESS command has been pleasantly surprised, when in few minutes after start have announced, that on a distance of 5 km in huge isolation from others Vladimir Feoktistov finishs.
After the end of the sports part action gradually transferred to the food and entertainment area, where both skiers and spectators could get warm tea, mulled wine as well as stronger drinks and traditional shashlyk (barbecued meat). Those not tired took part in the games and dancing.
And finally the long awaited award ceremony! The youngest participants were invited onto the pedestal first. Then winners in men's and women's competitions in 1, 3, 5, 10 km distances were awarded prizes and medals. One winner deserves special mention. The fastest woman in 1km distance was a young woman with Down syndrome, Maria Nefedova, who is a teacher's assistant in Downside Up Early Intervention Centre. PONY EXPRESS command has brought our winner on a pedestal on hands under the general laughter and an applause. We leaved, carrying away with itself not only prizes and medal produced by children Downside Up - with us there was an atmosphere of the remarkable winter holiday which has presented all perfect mood. Once again PONY EXPRESS has done its bit in hard job, which purpose - to make a life of children with a syndrome of Down hardly bright, more joyfully and more warmly even in fierce Russian frosts.
‘Red Square 2005’ marathon
The 10th annual International ‘Red Square’ cycling marathon organized by Downside Up took place from 26 till 28 April. The event has collected around 1 million dollars in the span of 10 years and has helped thousands of children with Down’s syndrome.
PONY EPXRESS has been taking part in the summer marathon for several years. Vsevolod Berkin took the baton this year from the participants of previous years (Vadim Savergin, Artyom Basiliev).
Along with the other participants (from England, Holland, South Africa and many other countries) he covered a distance of over 170 kilometers in Russia and the Moscow region.
Vsevolod represented our company with dignity and rode like a professional cyclist. He was also honored with a special bravery award for the way he got past a beaver crossing.
During the marathon our hero had many adventures. He was competing for endurance and speed, and at the same time was relaxing in the nature with new friends.
The marathon finished on 28 August in the Red Square where the participants were greeted by their friends, colleagues and journalists. Many warm words were said about the Downside Up Fund, the main organizer of the event. We would like to thank them for organizing such an important charity event. We would also like to express our gratitude to Vsevolod who represented our company and all the people who supported him in Vasilievsky Spusk.
Ski race 2005
PONY EXPRESS followed the tradition and took part in the 2nd charity ski race dedicated to the children with Down’s syndrome. The ski race, organized by the anglo-russian organization ‘Downside Up’, was held on 12 February 2005. Around 100 people gathered in Bitse. 6 teams (representing different companies) took part in the 6x500 meter relay race. After the relay race all the participants took part in the one, three and five kilometer events.
Sergei Drozdov from the Sales Department represented PONY EXPRESS in the race. He is a very experienced skier and managed to win the 3 kilometer race.
We congratulate the winner!
The charity event took place in one of the ski bases near Moscow. All the participants and supporters had a chance to experience, apart from the freezing cold, a real field kitchen. Delicious sashliks and traditional mulled wine were served. Round dances and Russian songs accompanied by the harmonica livened the atmosphere.
The charity ski race has collected over 20 thousand dollars. The collected money will pay for the rehabilitation programs of over 500 Russian children suffering with Down’s syndrome during 2005-2006.
‘Red square 2004’ cycle marathon
Downside Up had organized yet another charity cycle marathon in august 2004– ‘Red Square 2004’. The cycle marathon is one of the most important, lively and significant charity events organized by Downside Up. The marathon goes through the most beautiful sights of the Moscow region and is conducted with the patronage of the Government Sports Committee of the Russian Federation and the Russian Council of Youth Affairs and Sports.
Sergei Vadim, head of the PONY EXPRESS Sales Department, took part in the cycle marathon in the last couple of years. In 2004 our company was well represented by Vasiliev Artyom (Department of Delivery).
Artyom covered a distance of around 200 kilometers passing through the valleys and hills of the wild Moscow suburbs. Along with his new friends from all over the world he went through unforgettable experiences. He displayed colossal endurance and was always in the group of front runners.
We thank Downside Up for organizing such a marvelous event. We would also like to separately thank all the people who greeted the PONY EXPRESS team at the finish line in Vasilievski Spusk.
Downside Up Fund official website
Detailed information regarding the activities of the fund can be found on our website http://www.downsideup.org
