Corbin child to be featured in Down Syndrome awareness campaign

Lennox Lawson pictured with his parents.

A Corbin child has been selected to be among the 400 whose photographs appear in a video in New York’s Times Square to help kick off Down Syndrome Awareness Month in October.

Four-year-old Lenox Lawson was selected from among 2,000 submissions to have his picture included.

“There was a national call asking for submissions of people with Down’s and my wife sent in pictures,” said Michael Lawson, Lenox’s father.

Lawson said he and his wife, Amanda, adopted Lenox from Hong Kong in February 2014.

Michael Lawson said while Lenox doesn’t yet talk, he does communicate through sign language and gestures.

Lenox favorite activities include t ball, dancing and playing with his Beagle “Bo”

“He is just the happiest kid you will ever meet,” Michael Lawson said.

“He loves to do anything where he can get in front of people and be a ham,” Lawson added.

The National Down Syndrome Society is organizing the program, which is scheduled for Saturday, September 17.

Organizers said the goal is to feature photographs that highlight children, teens and adults with Down Syndrome in an effort to remind the world about the contributions and milestones of people with Down Syndrome.

“These collective images promote the value, acceptance and inclusion of people with Down Syndrome, which is the mission of NDSS,” organization officials stated.

Michael Lawson said despite the speech issue, Lenox is very smart.

While children with Down Syndrome are the face of the disease, Michael Lawson said the adults are receiving more of a focus such as in the A&E TV series “Born This Way.”

The show follows seven adults born with Down Syndrome as they pursue their passions in life.

Lawson said there is an adult with Down Syndrome in Clarksville, Tenn., who runs his own sub sandwich shop.

Though Lenox has not yet told his parents what he would like to be when he grows up, Michael Lawson said he knows what direction his son will likely take.

“If he is not in front of people doing something I will be surprised because that is what he loves,” Michael Lawson said.

Lawson said it is yet to be determined whether the family will make the trip to New York City for the event.

The video presentation will be followed by the 22^nd annual Flagship Buddy Walk in New York City. Local Buddy Walks will be held September 17 in Bowling Green and October 23 in Knoxville, Tenn.

More information online is available at www.buddywalk.org or by calling 1-800-221-4602.