Down with Running was founded by Matt and Alexandra Lamos. They have three children, Maddy, Aiden, and Lilly.
Lilly was diagnosed at birth with Trisomy 21, or Down Syndrome. Although she has had countless sessions with physical therapy, speech therapy, occupation therapy, surgeries, sleep studies, and overnight stays in the hospital, Lilly doesn't slow down.
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Lilly has thankfully worked with a dedicated group of providers that allowed the Lamos' to give Lilly the chance to try hard things. To really push herself. Even, to fail.
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Through Lilly's hard work, she continues to grow stronger.
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Matt is an avid runner and has felt, first hand, the positive physical and phycological effects of running and routinely exercising. it was hard to watch Lilly hit her milestones at a delayed timeline compared to her brother and sister. Sometimes, it was easier/quicker to carry Lilly from point A to point B. Ultimately, that wasn't going to help her. Many cards were stacked against Lilly in her life already, not allowing her the opportunity to become self sufficient wasn't the right move.
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In February of 2025, Lilly climbed to the top of the rope ladder at therapy and shouted "Oh yeah baby". This wouldn't be considered a "milestone" for most kids about to turn 4, but for Lilly, this was huge. She demonstrated physical strength and control over her muscles and combining three words at once in the correct order. Moreover, her Physical therapist and speech therapist were there to witness the event.
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Lilly has a long road ahead of her, but our goal is for her, and any other person with special needs to be able to live a healthy life. The better we understand the physical and physiological effects of exercise in relationship to individuals with disabilities, the better success we will be able to help them find in life.
At Down with Running, we will help connect people to a range of services to support and inclusive events. This includes personalized training programs, access to running events, and a supportive community of like-minded individuals. We believe that everyone has the potential to achieve their fitness goals and we are here to help make that a reality.
OUR MISSION
Down with Running is a new organization dedicated to empowering people with cognitive and physical disabilities to stay fit by running. We believe that fitness is accessible to everyone regardless of circumstance and can help improve cognitive and long-term physical ailments. Our mission is to provide support and resources to those who want to start running as a form of exercise and help them achieve their fitness goals.
ABOUT US
