---
title: Fire-Dex Celebrates Future Firefighter Mattie On World Down Syndrome Day
description: Fire-Dex Celebrates Future Firefighter Mattie On World Down Syndrome Day
---

[Fire-Dex Blog](https://blog.firedex.com/blog)

# [Fire-Dex Celebrates Future Firefighter Mattie On World Down Syndrome Day](https://blog.firedex.com/blog/2014/03/21/fire-dex-celebrates-future-firefighter-mattie-world-syndrome-day)

 Written by [Fire-Dex](https://blog.firedex.com/blog/author/fire-dex) | Mar 21, 2014 6:51:06 PM

<https://blog.firedex.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/1527032_10152158117262867_1034386551_n.jpg>  
 It all started with a message from Rich Mistkowski, a Fire-Dex Facebook fan and firefighter in New Jersey. Rich shared some fun, inspiring images of his son, Mattie, at his firehouse in his [Fire-Dex gear](https://www.firedex.com/product/category-ebb161cf-34ad-4f3e-90cf-2a035d9695e7.aspx). Rich added, "he (Mattie) may be the world's first down syndrome firefighter. You never know. He is a very determined young man." All of us at Fire-Dex were immediately smitten with Mattie and his contagious smile.

These images inspired, Julie Burke, wife of Fire-Dex Chairman Bill Burke, to champion Fire-Dex to award Mattie with a [Fire-Dex helmet](https://www.firedex.com/product/category-44a48b28-fa53-43eb-ab82-02158323c01d.aspx) of his own....just like his Dad's.

<https://blog.firedex.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/IMG_0754.jpg>

Next came these animated pictures of Mattie sporting his very own Fire-Dex helmet, just like his Dad's.  Mattie was also featured in his helmet on [FireEngineering.com](http://www.fireengineering.com/articles/2014/03/today-is-world-down-syndrome-awareness-day.html) today.

<https://blog.firedex.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/IMG_0744.jpg><https://blog.firedex.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/IMG_0747.jpg>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We share this with you on March 21st, [World Down Syndrome Day](https://worlddownsyndromeday.org/).  And, we wish all those things for Mattie today and every day.

<https://blog.firedex.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/IMG_0730.jpg>

 

Thank you to our dealer, [FF1 Professional Safety Services](http://www.ff1.com) for helping us deliver this new helmet to Mattie.

 

[View full post](https://blog.firedex.com/blog/2014/03/21/fire-dex-celebrates-future-firefighter-mattie-world-syndrome-day)

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