Spring has sprung, May is here and it’s time to get back outdoors and enjoy the sunshine! May 2013 is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month which is a great way to kick-off the warmer weather. This month is dedicated to encouraging healthy, active lifestyles and finding fun, creative ways to stay fit.

Our playground, Madison’s Place, will provide a place for all children, adults and families to stay fit and have fun – regardless of disabilities. Every facet of the 15,000 square foot structure located on the perimeter of the Bielenberg Sports Center Complex in Woodbury, Minnesota has been designed to optimize accessibility for individuals of all capacities, enabling access to playgrounds’ multifaceted learning, training, and health benefits.

Last year during National Physical Fitness and Sports Month, we shared some disability friendly ideas to stay active. This year, we wanted to share some previous, relevant blog posts. Below features a round-up of previous posts and disability friendly ideas applicable to National Physical Fitness and Sports Month 2013!

Disability Friendly Ideas for National Physical Fitness and Sports Month 2013:

Locating and Accessible Playground Near You: Find a disability friendly, inclusive playground near you with this great website and tool.

Summer Vacation 2013 – Wilderness Inquiry: Start planning your summer 2013 vacation now! Why not head somewhere like Wilderness Inquiry? A nonprofit that aims to get people outside and in nature and is disability friendly!

National Physical Fitness and Sports Month – May 2012: Take a look back at what we had to say about National Physical Fitness and Sports Month this time last year!

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The Woodbury Lions Community Garage Sale is under a month away!

We are so excited to be participating in the 36th year of the Woodbury Lions Community Garage Sale and grateful for the support we’ve received thus far! Make sure you have the dates May 9th through the 11th on your calendar!

The money we raise during the Woodbury Lions Community Garage Sale will be used to purchase a $10,000 Roller Table for Madison’s Place. The Roller Table will be an awesome edition and with foster sensory, creative and tactical play!

Features Include:

• Helps kids develop “skin map” of tactile sensory receptors throughout the body
• Comfortable TenderTuff™ steel rollers
• Enclosed sealed bearings for pinch-free sliding
• Siderails for safe sensory play
• Curved overhead hand rails allowing for varied arm lengths and abilities

One of the best ways you can support us right now is to donate items for the sale! Not only will you be support the Madison Claire Foundation but you can get all of your spring cleaning out of the way! To donate, contact us at info@madisonclairefoundation.org for drop off locations (we also have volunteers throughout the metro ready to pick things up).

To support Madison Claire Foundation as we get closer to the sale, we ask you to use the power of social media to spread the word!

• Copy and past this message to you social media accounts: Support Madison Claire Foundation and the construction of Madison’s Place, and inclusive playground, during Woodbury Lions Community Garage Sale!
• Like us on Facebook and share our content, especially about Woodbury Lions Community Garage Sale, with your friends
• Follow us on Twitter to join the community there – be sure to RT our content!
• Check out our YouTube page and send the video to your network to help them learn more about our mission before the sale!
• Finally, you can Donate your voice and allow us to send out a monthly tweet in support of Madison’s Place

Thanks for your continued support! We can’t wait for the sale! 

1 percent of the population of children in the U.S. ages 3-17 have an autism spectrum disorder.

Fastest-growing developmental disability.

Prevalence is estimated at 1 in 110 births.

Once again, it’s time to shed light on a huge issue: Autism. April is National Autism Awareness month, a chance to inform, celebrate, advocate, fundraise and share. Last year during National Autism Awareness Month, we shared with you some great Autism resources. This year, we’re asking you to be an advocate for those with Autism.

Here are 4 ways to be an Autism Advocate during National Autism Awareness Month:

• Vote 4 Autism – An Advocacy Campaign of the Autism Society: This campaign encourages you to contact you local, state and federal government on current legislative issues.
• Put on the Puzzle: The Autism Awareness Puzzle Ribbon is a widely recognized symbol of support and advocacy for Autism in the Autism Community. Wear this symbol on your clothing, get a sticker for you car, a magnet for your fridge and much more here!
• Participate in an Event: Check out the events calendar here
  to attend one near you.
• Educate Yourself: You can find advocacy resources here. Educate yourself on current Autism facts and issues and share your knowledge with those around you.

Do you have another great way to be an Autism advocate? Share below! 

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Mark your calendars and start cleaning out your houses! Another Woodbury Lions Community Garage Sale is a little over a month away! 2013 marks the 36th year of the Woodbury Lions Community Garage Sale and we’re excited to announce that we will be participating.

We will be raising money during the Woodbury Lions Community Garage Sale to purchase a $10,000 Roller Table for Madison’s Place. The community-wide sale happens May 9th through the 11th 2013 - stay tuned for more information on the fine details. For now, contact us at info@madisonclairefoundation.org for drop off locations – we also have volunteers throughout the metro ready to pick things up! We need your  help to make this a success.

You can stay updated on events like Woodbury Lions Community Garage Sale and more by:

1. Subscribing to our blog

2. Liking us on Facebook

3. Following us on Twitter

Thanks for your continued support! We can’t wait for the sale! 

March 21st marks the 8th World Down Syndrome Day.

World Down Syndrome Day is officially recognized by the United Nations and aims to raise awareness about Down Syndrome by sharing stories, hosting events and celebrating those around us who amaze and inspire every single day.

This World Down Syndrome Day, supports are encouraged to wear socks for the LOTS OF SOCKS campaign. Why? To get people talking! The World Down Syndrome Day 2013 organizers recommend:

“…brightly coloured socks, mismatched socks, long socks, printed socks, 1 sock…maybe even 3 socks (or EXTRA socks) for 3 chromosomes. Or if you don’t normally wear socks then wear them. Just so long as they are socks which are on display and people will ask you about.”

Interested in supporting the LOTS OF SOCKS campaign in another way? The World Down Syndrome Day website has some ideas!

Other Ways to Get Involved

If you want to wear LOTS OF SOCKS and more, here are some ways you can get involved in our LOTS OF SOCKS campaign:

- Order special LOTS OF SOCKS logo socks from us. Please contact Down Syndrome International to receive these.
- If it’s too hot for socks where you are or you want to promote LOTS OF SOCKS in other ways, you can order LOTS OF SOCKS clothing and merchandise to use on the day by following this link for Official LOTS OF SOCKS Merchandise.
- Raise money to support people with Down syndrome by paying £1, $1, 1 Euro or a small amount in your own currency.
- Donate this money to your local, regional or national Down syndrome charity BUT consider donating at least 25% to Down Syndrome International to support “Reach Out”, our outreach training programmes in developing countries.

The official World Down Syndrome Day 2013 website can keep you updated on what’s going on surrounding the day. You can find or submit an event near you, stay connected via Twitter/Facebook/YouTube, learn more about the World Down Syndrome Day Conference 2013 and MORE!

Last year, World Down Syndrome Day worked to promote the inclusion of those with Down Syndrome…check out the great video from 2012:

Not only is March 2013 a month to celebrate the impending return of spring, but March 2013 is the month of awareness! March is both National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month 2013 and Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month 2013.

U.S. National Library of Medicine explains Cerebral Palsy as:

“a group of disorders that can involve brain and nervous system functions, such as movement, learning, hearing, seeing, and thinking.”

It can affect things such as muscle tone, movement and motor skills and is one of the most common congenital childhood disorders. While there is no cure for CP as of now, this month is a special time to raise awareness and fund research to put this disease behind us. Although Cerebral Palsy can be very mild, it can also be very severe and debilitating. The graphic below explain the different types of CP and what they can affect in the body:

To learn more about Cerebral Palsy, check out this video from Reaching for the Stars:

Another disease we aim to raise awareness about this month is Multiple Sclerosis.

U.S. National Library of Medicine explains Multiple Sclerosis as:

 ”an autoimmune disease that affects the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system).”

No two people have the same MS experience and it can cause various issues within the body ranging from numb limbs to loss of vision. Because it’s such a complex disease, your support by advocating and funding research is essential.

To learn more about Multiple Sclerosis, check out this video from National Multiple Sclerosis Society:

Rare diseases like this are near and dear to our heart. The children, adults and families that are affected by disease such as these are the inspiration behind Madison’s Place. Our goal is to create a place where everyone can grow, laugh and play. Thank you for your support of the Madison Claire Foundation – it extends far beyond this generation!

As many of you may know, today is Rare Disease Awareness Day 2013. Today we celebrate, support and advocate for those with who are affected by a rare disease or disorder. Today we encourage you to support the message of Rare Disease Awareness day an spread the word. Become an advocate, write to your congressmen, donate to your favorite organization or see how you can get involved with your community.

Our daughter Madison, who is the inspiration for all we do, suffered from Spinal Muscular Atrophy. Madison Claire Millington was born on May 16, 2002 and passed away on August 17, 2004 due to complications from Spinal Muscular Atrophy. Madison taught us so much about love and offered so many gifts in her two brief years of joyous life. With an ever present smile on her face – she was truly an angel in every sense of the word. Our lives were made better through Madison’s presence. And we hope to make the lives of other children and their families even slightly better through the work of the Foundation named in her honor.

The goal of Madison’s Place is to ensure that every child – regardless of rare disease, disability or any other factors – has a place to grow, laugh, learn and most importantly: play.

To support Madison Claire Foundation during this event, we ask you to use the power of social media to spread the word about our mission – to provide a place for everyone to play. 

• Copy and past this message to you social media accounts: Let’s help all kids have a place to play…check out www.MadisonClaireFoundation.org today!
• Like us on Facebook and share our content with your friends
• Follow us on Twitter to support our community there
• Check out our YouTube page and send the video to your network to help them learn more
• Finally, you can Donate your voice and allow us to send out a monthly tweet in support of Madison’s Place

We have teamed up with the Minnesota Wild to sell discounted tickets to upcoming Wild home games! A portion of each ticket sold will benefit the Madison Claire Foundation directly and assist in the construction of Madison’s Place.

Lower level tickets (to the games listed below) are just $55 through this link only! Normally these lower level corner tickets start at $81 so don’t put this offer on ice – purchase your tickets now!

To purchase click this link and use special offer code: Madison 

Offer Valid at the Following Minnesota Wild Games:

Minnesota Wild vs Oilers Sun
03/03/13 @ 7:00 PM

Minnesota Wild vs Canucks
Sun 03/10/13 @ 7:00 PM

Minnesota Wild vs Blues
Mon 04/01/13 @ 7:00 PM

Minnesota Wild vs Blues
Thu 04/11/13 @ 7:00 PM

Minnesota Wild vs Flames
Sun 04/21/13 @ 5:00 PM

Minnesota Wild vs Kings
Tue 04/23/13 @ 7:00 PM

February 28th, 2013, during Rare Disease Awareness Day 2013, we have a goal of spreading a message across the globe. One of hope, advocacy, information and most importantly – awareness. This year’s theme for the 6th Annual Rare Disease Awareness Day is Rare Disorders without Borders focused on creating a network around the world to support those in every country suffering from a rare disease or disorder:

There are over one hundred million people
living with a rare disease around the world.
Take down borders, for rare disorders.
Show your solidarity today!

As we get closer to the day, we encourage you to learn more about this global event – find out how you can get involved, tell your story, and become an advocate for those around you with a rare disease.

Did you know:

• 1 in 20 people is affected by a rare disease
• Over 6000 rare diseases affect children and adults
• Most are genetic, chronic and debilitating
• They can isolate patients from their family and friends

To support Madison Claire Foundation during this event, we ask you to use the power of social media to spread the word about our mission – to provide a place for everyone to play. 

• Copy and past this message to you social media accounts: Let’s help all kids have a place to play…check out www.MadisonClaireFoundation.org today!
• Like us on Facebook and share our content with your friends
• Follow us on Twitter to support our community there
• Check out our YouTube page and send the video to your network to help them learn more
• Finally, you can Donate your voice and allow us to send out a monthly tweet in support of Madison’s Place

Together, we can change the world and change the lives of those suffering from a rare disease. 

It starts with you. 

Happy Valentines Day! Today is the perfect day to spread the love and what better way to do that than by supporting a cause like Madison’s Place? The Madison Claire Foundation is in the process of raising the remaining funds needed for the installation of the accessible playground at the perimeter of the Bielenberg Sports Center Complex in Woodbury, Minnesota.

This Valentines Day, You can join us in our mission to help make Madison’s Place an accessible playground destination for families to enjoy what many of us take for granted – a day at the park! Give the gift of play, love, joy and hope by donating here. Your donation to will help us to build Madison’s Place – the East Metro’s first “inclusive playground” where memories will be created and friendships formed.

The generosity we have seen from the Twin Cities community and beyond is inspiring and we cannot thank you enough! Your gift, the gift of play, will truly make a huge impact on the lives of countless people. 

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