Oklahoma Christian University supported the 25th annual DSACO Festival & 5K

Alumni, students and professors took leading roles in the popular event.

October 8, 2019 - The 25th annual festival and 5K for those with an extra chromosome took place Oct. 5. The Down Syndrome Association of Central Oklahoma hosted the event at the Myriad Gardens in Downtown OKC.

OC alumnus and Associate Professor of Psychology and Family Science Bobby Kern led the awareness walk in honor of his son, Josiah, who has Down Syndrome. Kern is the current president of the board of directors for DSACO and has been a member since 2013.

Another OC alumnus, Tim Herbel, is the executive director of the nonprofit Not Your Average Joe and the announcer for OC's home basketball games. This nonprofit employs adults with special needs in the Oklahoma City metro, creating an environment of exceptional coffee and even better people.

Herbel and OC student Isa Woodson showed their support for the DSACO 5K by bringing along three of their employees with special needs to tell their stories. Herbel and Woodson also provided coffee, Super Scoop ice cream and more goodies for the big crowd at the event. 

“At NYAJ, we employ adults with special needs - several of those are members of DSACO,” Herbel said. “We braved the early morning with coffee and support of our friends and their families to raise awareness of those born with an extra chromosome and an extra measure of love.”

For more information about the DSACO 5K, visit the organization online.

For more information about NYAJ, visit the organization’s website.