Kids put their best feet forward to collectively walk 300 miles to raise money for Down’s South London
A group of 15 children, aged from just two to nine years old, are putting their best feet forward today to complete a 300-mile journey between them.
The children, all of whom have Down’s Syndrome, will be walking, running, scooting, cycling and swimming to cover the equivalent distance from Land’s End to Peckham in a virtual challenge.
The Down’s South London KIDS WALK 300 challenge is hoping to raise money for Down’s South London (DSL), a small charity based in Peckham, to replace more than £50,000 of lost income that the charity has suffered this year due to the pandemic.
The service, offered free to families, is paid for by voluntary donations and through fundraising initiatives by DSL’s trustees, families, their friends and supporters.
All the children are either current or former recipients of DSL’s support, such as early intervention speech and language therapy, physiotherapy and occupational/sensory therapy.
Children with Down’s Syndrome typically have some hypotonia, or low muscle tone, compared to a typical child.
The determined fundraisers are Leila, nine, Theodora, six, Tristan, Imany, Elijah, Beth, Emma and Eugene, all five, Elliott and Orla, four, Zephy, Lucy and Ned, three, and Mara and Olive, both two.
Once the challenge begins today, the group will be sharing their progress on Instagram via @downssouthlondon.
Donations can be made via the team’s Virgin Money Giving page: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-display/showROFundraiserPage?userUrl=DownsSouthLondonKIDSWALK300&isTeam=true&fbclid=IwAR3zB-jeBeS5prvq7Ru8HIPiBsqcUt5PHcu0p8tgD5LoB9lvc0lNK7laGX0
Chairman of Down’s South London, Gün Akyuz, said: “The pandemic has prevented us from organising our usual fundraisers, and our fantastic families have once again stepped up to safeguard their much-loved therapy.
“We are beyond proud of the 15 youngsters and their families for taking on this amazing challenge.”
Pictured top: Zephy Ojar and family
