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Community raising money to bring 'Gigi's Playhouse' to Charlotte

The community has raised over $80,000 in the last 21 days. They have enough to start looking at properties but they need another $200,000 for Gigi's Playhouse to be fully functional by their opening date.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- March 21st, or "World Down Syndrome Day," was a day reserved for celebrating and promoting awareness for those born with the third copy of the 21st chromosome.

In Charlotte, it is estimated that more than 3,000 were born with Down syndrome.

There isn't currently a place where folks in the Queen City can go for free educational and therapeutic resources. But thanks to a help from the local community, that's about to change as families across the Charlotte area teamed up to raise money for Gigi's Playhouse, a Down syndrome achievement center.

Christy Allen, co-founder of Gigi's Playhouse in Charlotte, said the community has raised more than $80,000 in the last 21 days.

They have enough to start looking at properties but they need another $200,000 to be fully functional by their opening date, which they hope is no later than January 2019.

"Never in a million years did I think that we would raise what we needed in eight months time," Allen said.

Allen involvement with the Down syndrome community started after the birth of her 3-year-old son, Charlie.

"The doctor delivered the news through a phone call when some blood test results that were taken prenatally showed a 99 percent probability," she recalled. "He delivered the news like he was telling me someone had died. It was very, very negative. It just made me very afraid."

Despite the doctor's apparent tone in delivering the news, Chisty was excited to welcome Charlie into the family.

"I knew that he was meant to be here," Christy said.

Charlie has lived through more than most people his age would go through, like beating leukemia. Now, Christy has her sights set on his development.

Kelly Blake's team has raised thousands of dollars this past week. The mother of six expects to be an active member of Gigi's Playhouse once it finds a location. Kelly's youngest are twins, Morgan and Brooklyn.

Morgan, not even two years old, has Down syndrome. Kelly said the community's push to raise awareness has paved a way for cultural acceptance.

"There's never been a better time to have Down syndrome," she said.

While Kelly and Christy embrace raising a child with Down syndrome, they understand the struggle for others.

"That fear and negativity can really paralyze these parents and they need a place where they can go," Christy said.

That's where Gigi's playhouse comes into play. The facility features a gym and various programs catered to each age group in an effort to help them grow and succeed.

Currently, there are 35 Gigi's Playhouses in North America, with all being 97 percent volunteer-driven.

"We use our community to get involved, they volunteer and they are changed as a result."

Click here to donate or learn more about Gigi's Playhouse.

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