In Week 14 against the Chicago Bears, San Francisco 49ers defensive back Deommodore Lenoir is showcasing his support for athletes with Down syndrome through a special pair of custom-designed cleats, honoring two important people in his life: his little sister, Caleya, and Charvarius Ward's late daughter, Amani. Lenoir is participating in the NFL's annual My Cause My Cleats initiative, a league-wide campaign in which players can raise awareness for personal causes using customized cleats.
Lenoir's cleats for the Week 14 contest are painted in bright pink and purple. The pink represents his sister Caleya, who was born with Down syndrome, while the purple honors Amani, who tragically passed away earlier this year. Both girls have profoundly shaped Lenoir's life, inspiring him to raise awareness for children with Down syndrome and the organizations that support them.
"My little sister Caleya, she was born with Down syndrome. I always grew up knowing that kids with Down syndrome were going to be different, but I never treated her differently," Lenoir said. "Kids with Down syndrome just need extra love. They are real sweet kids, and we just want to push them to be great, to show them that they can do it."
Lenoir recalled how, at first, his family had concerns about Caleya's development after learning about her diagnosis. But over the years, they were amazed at her growth and determination.
"Reading about Down syndrome, when we first found out that she she was gonna be born with it, some kids aren't able to talk, learn or process things fast. But once we got to see her grow up, she was picking up on things fast. It was a blessing to watch her grow up."
The cleats also carry the name of Amani, who was close to Lenoir as a teammate's daughter. Amani also had Down syndrome and tragically passed away in October this year.
"When I look down at the cleats, I know I've got her name on there. So I know I'm going to be playing for her," Lenoir said. "My sister loves pink, and then the purple came in when I saw a picture of Mooney (Ward) with his daughter, and he had on a purple Moncler sweater. So, I added them together. I've got Amani on there, so I'm going to be playing for her too."
The personalized cleats are a symbol of Lenoir's commitment to spreading love and awareness for children with Down syndrome. The 49ers defensive back is supporting the Football Camp for the Stars, an organization dedicated to providing athletes with Down syndrome the opportunity to participate in football, learn the fundamentals of the game and experience the excitement of the sport with NFL players and coaches.
"It's a blessing just to have kids around who are different, and it's important to show them the way, that they can be something," Lenoir said.
Lenoir's ongoing support for Down syndrome awareness, both for his sister Caleya and in honor of Amani, shows his deep commitment to using his platform to make a difference. With his custom cleats and heartfelt dedication to the cause, Lenoir is not only raising awareness but also offering a message of love and support for all children with Down syndrome.
