ASICS And Included & Perfectly Different Host Community Run For Down Syndrome Awareness Month

(MENAFN- Mid-East Info)

Participants will wear mismatched socks from Included & Perfectly Different's new Endless Possibilities collection, featuring designs created by children with Down Syndrome and autism. The run forms part of ASICS' Run as One campaign, which encourages people of different backgrounds and experience levels to come together through running, while supporting them as they start their running journey and prepare for upcoming races across the region.

Dubai, UAE – October 2026: ASICS and homegrown brand Included & Perfectly Different are joining forces for a community run to raise awareness this Down Syndrome Awareness Month. Held on 25 October, the run will see participants wear mismatched socks from Included & Perfectly Different's new Endless Possibilities collection. Borderless Finance. AI-Native.

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The collaboration connects Included & Perfectly Different's work around inclusion with ASICS' Run as One campaign, which encourages people of all backgrounds and experience levels to take up running and supports their journey towards upcoming races across the region. The run will give the local community an opportunity to get moving together while wearing designs created by children with additional needs.

For ASICS, the collaboration reflects the role running can play beyond competition. People run for different reasons, from improving their performance and staying active to clearing their mind or simply spending time with others. Through Run as One and its wider community initiatives, ASICS aims to make running welcoming and accessible to people at different levels and with different goals, whether they are taking their first steps into running, working towards a personal goal or preparing for an upcoming race.

The approach is rooted in the brand's founding philosophy, Sound Mind, Sound Body, and its belief in the positive impact of movement on both physical and mental wellbeing.

Nikola Djordjevic, Deputy General Manager, Marketing, ASICS Middle East, said:“Running should be something people feel they can take part in, regardless of their ability, experience or goals. Run as One is about inclusion and giving people an opportunity to move together and connect with others. It also encourages more people to start running and supports them as they work towards their goals, including preparing for races across the region. That is also why we have partnered with Included & Perfectly Different. We share a belief in inclusion and in creating spaces where people feel welcome to take part. It is a simple idea, but one that reflects what Sound Mind, Sound Body means to us in practice.”

Founded by Wade and Estelle Loehmer, Included & Perfectly Different began with a simple idea of turning drawings created by children with Down syndrome into mismatched sock designs, giving children with different abilities a platform to share their creativity while raising awareness around inclusion.

Its new Endless Possibilities collection expands the initiative to include children with a wider range of additional needs. The collection features socks designed by Aarti, Beauden and Seif, with each pair named after the child who created the original artwork, reflecting the belief that every sock has a story.

The Endless Possibilities collection reflects what can become possible when children are given opportunity, encouragement and a platform. It also gives each child an opportunity to express their individuality and showcase their talents.

Proceeds from Included & Perfectly Different Socks are reinvested into the community and inclusion scholarships to grow the programme and support more families.

Estelle Loehmer and Wade Loehmer, Founders of Included & Perfectly Different, said:“When we started Included & Perfectly Different, we wanted to give children a way to share their creativity and have their stories seen. Endless Possibilities allows us to open that opportunity to more talented children with different abilities. Each child has created something completely their own, and now people will be wearing the socks inspired through their designs as they take part in this run. For us, that is what inclusion should look like: giving people an equal opportunity to participate, be recognised and be celebrated for who they are.”

Through community runs as a part of Run as One, ASICS continues to create opportunities for people to run together, from experienced runners and those working towards performance goals to people who simply want to stay active, meet others, and enjoy being part of a community.

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