Cheshire businesses help raise awareness of Down's Syndrome (From Northwich Guardian)

Cheshire businesses help raise awareness of Down's Syndrome

11:10am Sunday 10th March 2013 in News By Gina Bebbington

ODD socks will be cropping up across Cheshire this month as schools and businesses raise awareness of Down’s Syndrome.

The Cheshire Down’s Syndrome Support Group has won support from a restaurant and gym holding extra events as well as a loyal cohort of schools and other businesses keen to help Dosh for Down’s Day.

The Duke of Portland, in Lach Dennis, has agreed to offer a Dish for Down’s and is donating £2 for every chicken au poivre dish sold during March.

LA Fitness, in Northwich town centre, is organising a swimathon for members and non members throughout awareness week, from March 18 to 24, and encouraging people to pop in and swim a few lengths.

The target is 21 miles three times to represent the three copies of chromosome 21 unique to people with Down’s Syndrome.

This set of numbers is also why World Down’s Syndrome Day is held on March 21, the 21st day of the third month.

Davenham mum Julie Duff, whose son Joshua has Down’s Syndrome, volunteers for the Cheshire Down’s Syndrome Support Group and helps organise the Dosh for Down’s campaign.

She said: “The idea behind Dosh for Down’s is to continue to create a greater awareness of the support that is available in Cheshire for parents of children with Down’s Syndrome as well as fundraising to ensure we can continue to offer vital services in the Cheshire area.

“It is a difficult time to fundraise, but we are always amazed by the generosity of the local community.

“The money that we raised last year enabled us to continue to produce vital maternity packs for new parents, continue with our family events and host leading edge training delivered by experts to our schools and parent community.

“It is amazing what you can achieve by simply wearing odd socks and raising awareness.”

On March 21 itself people from local schools and business are donning odd socks, including Davenham CE Primary School, St Wilfrid’s Catholic Primary School, NALCO and Cheshire West and Chester Council.

For a fundraising pack and more information visit cheshiredownssyndrome.com or contact Julie at Julie@duffgang.com or 07764 502665.