Free Churros at Taco John’s for World Down Syndrome Day

Taco John’s is rocking their socks during World Down Syndrome Day on Wednesday, March 21. According to Brian Fox, owner of Taco John’s in Milbank, the staff at Taco John’s will all be wearing colorful and mismatched socks to show their support. Fox invites you to rock your socks, too! Fox said, “Customers wearing mismatched socks receive a free churro with their meal.” Who doesn’t love a free dessert? Especially a churro – the Mexican-style pastry dusted in sugar and laced with cinnamon. Guaranteed to knock your socks off!

‘This is the first year the Milbank Taco John’s has participated in the world-wide event to raise awareness for people with Down Syndrome,” said Fox. “It’s a chance for us to have a little fun, get a little silly, and raise some money for a good cause.” A portion of Taco John’s sales on March 21 will be donated to the Special Olympics Fundraiser.

The term Trisomy 21 was the genesis for choosing March 21 -the 21st day of the third month- as World Down Syndrome Day. According to the World Health Organization which developed World Down Syndrome Day, there is no cause for Down Syndrome and no known cure. Down Syndrome results from extra genetic material in chromosome 21. This can be due to a process called nondisjunction in which genetic materials fail to separate during a crucial part of the formation of gametes, resulting in an extra chromosome (called trisomy 21). The cause of nondisjunction is not known.

According to WHO, things are improving. “In the 1900s, children with Down Syndrome were expected to live less than 10 years. Now, about 80 percent of people with Down Syndrome reach their 50th birthday and beyond.” The WHO estimates the incidence of Down Syndrome is between 1 in 1,000 to 1 in 1,100 live births worldwide. Each year approximately 3,000 to 5,000 children are born with this chromosomal disorder, and it is believed there are about 250,000 families in the United States affected by Down Syndrome.