Saturday March 29, 2008
MPO add cheer to World Down Syndrome Day celebration
BY ISTA KYRA SHARMUGAM
PARENTS and children gathered together for a day of dance and song to commemorate World Down Syndrome Day on March 21.
Kiwanis Down Syndrome Foundation (KDSF) in Malaysia organised the celebrations at Damansara Specialist Hospital, to mark the third time the special day was observed.
The Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra added cheer to the occasion with a violin performance by Liu-Yi Retallick, 14, and Ho Wai Keen, 20. Ho, who has Down Syndrome, was delighted to perform.
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attraction: Tan (with tie) and Ena (in white coat) joining the children and parents as they admire the cake. |
“I enjoyed performing for the crowd very much,” said Ho, who picked up the violin after following his sister to her music classes. Ho, who played a duet with Retallick, said he had practised for only two and a half hours for the show. The piece, Waltzing Matilda, was delivered beautifully and impressed the audience who cheered loudly.
Seven-year-olds Kevin Wong, Chloe Chan, and Lim Wei Kang, and Lim Li Ki, 10, and Shawn Yong, 13, also entertained those present with a live dance number.
“He loves to attend functions and was excited about performing today even though he's never performed a dance before,” said Belinda How of her son Yong.
Theresa How, mother of Wei Kang, said her son had performed at last year's World Down Syndrome Day function and insisted on performing again this year.
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Beautiful duet: Retallick (left) and Ho performing 'Waltzing Matilda' for the parents and children at the celebration. |
“We are celebrating the inspiration, tenacity and achievements of those families with Down Syndrome children,” said KDSF national centre chairman Fred Tan said, adding that people used to be afraid and at a loss when they learnt that their child had Down Syndrome but over the years, the cloud of discrimination largely been dispersed.
KDSF National Centre patron Toh Puan Ena Ling also attended the celebration.
There were also narrations and more dances before everyone dug into a beautifully decorated cake with the global theme “Aim High Enough” on it.
Source:
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