21 Down Celebrates ‘A Day at the Beach’

NORTH WILDWOOD — They were having a hot time down at the beach on Fri., July 22. And it had nothing to do with the temperature hovering well over 100 degrees.
Over one hundred people came to North Wildwood on a scorching hot day to participate in the North Wildwood Beach Patrol’s third annual Day at the Beach, held in conjunction with 21 Down.
21 Down, an organization that promotes awareness of Down Syndrome, a genetic mutation of the twenty-first chromosome that causes developmental delays in children born with the abnormal gene. According to studies, 1 in every 733 births will result in a child born with Down Syndrome.
According to organizers, this year’s event was the best attended ever. Over 107 people responded to the invitation, which included parents and siblings as well as children affected by Down Syndrome.
Lauren Johnson of North Cape May was there with her five-year-old son, Charlie. While Johnson sat with other parents, Charlie was in the ocean with a lifeguard, riding a surfboard. “He’s having a blast,” said Johnson as Charlie rode a wave.
The day’s festivities, organized by North Wildwood Beach Patrol member Bill Autry, and his wife Lauren. The Autry’s, who hail from Philadelphia, have been the event’s organizers since the beginning.
“We don’t have a child with Down Syndrome,” said Lauren Autry. “But Billy loves working with special needs kids.”
As part of the day’s events, the children got to swim, surf, learn water safety, as well as learning about sea life. In other words, they get to be ‘regular’ kids at the beach.
According to the Autry’s, the planners expected fewer participants this year because of the heat. “But we’ve had twice as many families as last year!”
Setting up the event began at 8 a.m. Dave Lindsay, a co-organizer, had his team of lifeguards on the beach.
“They say it’s a lot of work, but it’s not,” said Lindsay. “But (because of the heat) we were out here sweating at 8 a.m.”
One child was lucky enough to spend the day with his own personal lifeguard. Shane McAnaney, 11, of North Cape May, is the son of North Wildwood Beach Patrol lifeguard Sean McAnaney.
For Matt Rose, 16, of Franklinville, it was more than just a day at the beach. Matt will turn 17 on July 27 so he was celebrating his birthday by surfing for the first time.
Matt’s mother, Kelly Rose, explained that Matt is a non-swimmer. “He feels safe with these guys,” she said. “It took a lot to get him out there, but now he loves it.”
The Bradley family from Westmont is part of the original six families from the initial Day at the Beach event.
Danielle, now 13, loves coming to the beach. She could not pin down exactly what it was that she loved most. “I love all of it!”
Four-year-old Lauren Hull from Toms River was experienced all that the ocean had to offer. Wading in the water with her father, Randy, Lauren splashed and ran.
“This is fun for her,” said her mother Kate Hull, “and she gets to be with her peers.”
Kate Hull spoke about her experience with raising a child who is developmentally delayed. “She has speech delays and tires easily,” said her mother. “And befriending other children is sometimes a problem.”
Kate Hull spoke of her daughter’s speech delay and the inroads she has made. “By the time she was three-and-a-half she could sign over 250 words,” she said. “Now she can sign well over 350.” Lauren now speaks audibly in addition to signing.
Sitting on the beach with the 21 Down group was Alisa Moyer, a fifth-grade teacher from Plymouth Meeting, Pa. Moyer happened to be at the beach with her two sons, Tyler 5, and Kaden 1. Moyer is not a member of the organization; nor was she aware of the event. “I never heard of the organization,” said Moyer, “but this should be a national event.”
As the day grew, Moyer’s sons were happily playing with the Hull children, as well as other children attending the event, proving the point offered by Kate Hull – “They’re more alike than different.”
.