Kaila White

The Republic | azcentral.com

Dressed in a fresh Minnie Mouse shirt and white, swirly skirt, Zoey Maske showed off her new moves: Spinning and jumping.

The jumps were learned in dance classes but came in handy Wednesday as the 4 1/2-year-old Zoey hopped down the runway during rehearsal for her second-ever fashion show.

She is one of nearly two dozen children with Down syndrome who will star in the third annual Down Right Beautiful Fashion Show and luncheon for more than 200 guests Sunday in downtown Phoenix.

The event, which precedes World Down Syndrome Day on March 21, benefits the the Pediatric Down Syndrome Clinic at Barrow Neurological Institute at Phoenix Children's Hospital. The multi-disciplinary clinic is the first of its kind in Arizona, and one of several in the Southwest.

The stars of the show range from 2 to 17 years old and will be escorted down the runway by Miss Arizona pageant winners and contestants. Jamie Brewer, an actress with Down syndrome best known for her role on "American Horror Story," is the guest of honor.

From barely standing up to strutting

Zoey had heart surgery at Phoenix Children's Hospital when she was 6 months old and has attended the clinic since it opened, said her father, Michael Maske.

Maske, 40, is a single father, veteran, Arizona State University graduate and business owner. He remembers celebrating her first steps with cheers and her first time putting on her shoes with pride. Now she's walking the runway, smiling and giggling, showing off for the crowd.

"That is the miracle of what happens here at Phoenix Children’s ... the heart surgery, all of the proactive things we know has translated into longer, healthier, happier lives," he said as Zoey clung onto his legs. She's cuddly.

"That was fun," Zoey said, her face lighting up as dad picked her up and held her.

"I used to walk into rooms with her and she could just sense people, and she would go up and give somebody a hug and they would come to me and say, ‘I needed that today.’ I don’t know how you do that! You're pretty smart," he said, smiling down at her.

"We do as much as we can for events like this to help support the hospital," he said. "For me, it’s important that, for all of these people who take such great care of our kids, just to say 'Thank you.' "

Celebrating greatness, both the clinic's and the kids'

More than 300 children have been patients at the clinic since it opened in 2013, and there are about 120 on the wait list, said Dr. Robin Blitz, a developmental-behavioral pediatrician, director of the clinic and Zoey's doctor.

The clinic provides a spectrum of care -- something of a one-stop shop for children with Down syndrome. For example, they've had some patients work with the hospital's sleep clinic and discover they have severe sleep apnea, which is impeding their ability to learn.

As for the show, it's a big deal and fun for everyone, Blitz said.

"It’s great for their families seeing them up there being stars," Blitz said. "We don’t always celebrate our kids with special needs in our communities.

"We celebrate great athletes and we celebrate maybe the winner of the spelling bee and kids who get scholarships, but sometimes our society forgets kids with special needs. It’s a way to celebrate their greatness."

Down Right Beautiful Fashion Show

The fundraiser is 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday, March 20, at Warehouse 215 at Bentley Projects, 215 E. Grant St., Phoenix. Tickets are $100, or $75 for family members of a person with Down syndrome. Tickets are available until noon Saturday, March 19. Learn more and buy tickets at www.DSFashionShow.org.