Photos and story by Monty Siekerman
What do you get when you mix 16,000 gallons of water with dirt? Lots of mud and that mixture became the mud volleyball playing field for a Down Syndrome fundraiser at Ada War Memorial Park on Saturday.

Twenty-one teams from Ohio and neighboring states came to Ada to get down and get dirty to benefit the greater Toledo chapter. On Saturday, the event raised several thousand dollars to provide assistance, education, support groups, and to raise awareness of Down Syndrome.

This was the 5th year the Toledo chapter held the tourney in Ada in the tractor pull area on the east side of the park. About 150 people played mud volleyball.

Down Syndrome is not a disease, but a genetic chromosome 21 disorder causing developmental and intellectual delay.

Although Ada does not have a chapter, those wishing to start one or wanting to receive educational materials may call Brad Eaton of Upper Sandusky at 419-731-3908. He and his family have organized the event in Ada for the past several years. More information can be found on the website http://dsagt.org.