Photo of Orland Park girl with Down syndrome will be displayed in Times Square
The third time was the charm for a photo of 3-year-old Mackenzie Chesna, of Orland Park, to be picked for a video presentation held annually in New York’s Times Square by the National Down Syndrome Society.
In the photo, Mackenzie, who goes by Mack, has her hair in pig tails and is smiling wide. Her mother, Molly Chesna, said she’s submitted photos every year since Mackenzie was born, and the whole family is thrilled she was selected.
“What you see in the photo is very much her. Everyone talks about her pigtails and that smile and the cheeks. That’s just her, all around,” Molly said.
Mackenzie’s photo was selected from more than 2,400 entries, according to a news release from the National Down Syndrome Society.
Her photo will be one of about 500 photos of children, teens and adults with Down syndrome displayed Sept. 9 in a one-hour video on two giant screens in the heart of Times Square, according to the release.
The purpose of the images are to “promote the value, acceptance, and inclusion of people with Down Syndrome in a very visible way,” it states.
The presentation will be livestreamed on the National Down Syndrome Society Facebook page from 8:30-9:30 a.m. Central time Sept. 9.
After the video presentation, the New York City Buddy Walk takes place in Central Park. The National Buddy Walk Program has focused on Down syndrome awareness, advocacy and peer-to-peer fundraising since 1995, officials said.
Molly Chesna said the family is looking forward to participating because it is the biggest Buddy Walk event in the country.
Both sets of grandparents and some aunts and cousins will join Mackenzie, her parents and her 6-year-old sister, Parker, Molly Chesna said.
Nick Chesna, Mackenzie’s dad, said they’ve told her that her picture will be displayed in Times Square. While she doesn’t fully understand what that means, he said she will be thrilled when she sees herself on a big screen.
“She’ll point and say, ‘me’ or something in regards to that,” Nick said. “She’ll point and smile and probably clap.”
And like any older sister, Parker is thrilled for Mackenzie.
“I’m pumped,” Parker shouted with excitement.
Once her photo is off the screen, Nick Chesna said Mackenzie will enjoy waving to everyone around her.
“She’s one that captures everyone’s attention,” he said. “I think she’s just going to enjoy what the environment is there and bring a smile to many people’s faces.”
Mackenzie likes to dance, play with her older sister and make other people smile or laugh, Nick said. Her favorite song to dance to is “Wheels on the Bus,” and her favorite move is making the motion of the wheels with her arms, Molly said.
While public perception is that having Down syndrome is a negative thing, Nick said nothing could be further from the truth.
“It’s changed our lives for the positive. It’s brought more awareness and joy to not just our immediate family of four but our friends, our families, our cousins, our co-workers,” he said.
