3•2•1 Relay For Awareness—Moving for National Down Syndrome Day
In true City Sweat Club style, we’re taking movement through the heart of the city.
Join us for a community relay race in celebration of National Down Syndrome Day, beginning at Roasting Plant Detroit near Campus Martius downtown. This experience is free and open to all participants,.
While participation is free, we encourage those who feel called to support the mission by making a contribution directly to the National Down Syndrome Society through Coach Jack’s fundraising profile. Jack will be running the Chicago Marathon to raise funding and awareness for Down syndrome, and this relay is one way our community can move alongside that effort.
The 3•2•1 Relay Format
Participants will form teams of three, with each runner completing a leg of the race representing the numbers 3, 2, and 1.
Runner One: 3 loops
Runner Two: 2 loops
Runner Three: 1 loop
Each leg begins and ends at Roasting Plant Detroit, where teammates recover, cheer one another on, and prepare for the next exchange. The race moves like a rhythm through the city—each runner stepping in, passing the baton, and carrying the effort forward.
Before the relay begins, the full group will head out together for a community warm-up lap through downtown to stretch our legs and get familiar with the route. Walkers are welcome, and we’ll close the morning with a cool-down togetherback at the starting point.
This isn’t about competition, it’s about moving together for something meaningful. Here, we’re all on the same team—raising awareness, celebrating inclusion, and supporting the work of the National Down Syndrome Society.
Why We’re Moved
National Down Syndrome Day is observed on March 21 (3.21)—a date chosen to represent three copies (trisomy) of the 21st chromosome, the genetic variation that causes Down syndrome.
Approximately 1 in every 700 babies in the United States is born with Down syndrome.
People with Down syndrome are active participants in educational, social, and recreational activities. They are included in the typical education system and take part in sports, music, art programs, and many other experiences throughout their communities.
They are valued members of their families and communities, making meaningful contributions to society every day.
And that’s why we move—together—to raise awareness, celebrate inclusion, and continue creating a world where everyone has the opportunity to participate, belong, and thrive.