A 'MOOCHATHON' will come to Northwich for the first time as part of a Cheshire Down's Syndrome Support Group fundraiser.

The event involves a 21.3-mile walk, representing three copies of chromosome 21 – unique to people with Down's syndrome – while a family 'Mini Moochathon' route of 2.1km is also planned.

Taking place on March 23, two days after World Down Syndrome Awareness Day, the event will encourage people to get active and hope to follow in the footsteps of the group's previous endeavours.

Last year Kirsty Wagster, Louise Ollier and Victoria Woodham raised more than £8,000 by taking on the Get Up for Down’s challenge, and the previous year teenager Emma Harris raised thousands with her gingerbread socks idea.

CDSSG chief executive Julie Duff said: “Getting active is at the heart of our campaign this year with the Moochaton and Mini Mooch both playing a key role in getting our World Down Syndrome Day awareness message across.

"As usual we will be selling gingerbread sock biscuits and delivering awareness assemblies in schools. We’ve also created a fitness tracker for children to complete at school so that they can get moving and earn their biscuit.

“It’s really great to see that people are still taking part in our wider Get Up for Down’s fundraiser. We’ve had fantastic support this year from University of Chester students and community groups as well as many individuals who have run, walked, cycled or swam 21.3 miles or km.

"We are always very grateful to people who challenge themselves to help improve the lives of people who have Down’s syndrome in Cheshire.

“Thanks to the support we receive from fundraisers, businesses and trusts this year we’ll be able to offer dance sessions, forest activities, football training, pre-school groups, family days out, training, educational and health support to people who have Down’s syndrome in our Cheshire community.”

This year's main ‘mooch’ will start and end at Hartford Hall and include parts of the picturesque Whitegate Way. The Mini Mooch of 2.1km has been arranged for children and families along the Whitegate Way section of the route.

One person who’ll be signing up for the Mini Mooch is 10-year-old George Avraam from Whitegate, who recently held a school fundraiser for the group and raised £300 for the charity that supports his brother Theo who has Down’s syndrome.

Participants are being urged to sign up for the challenge and get training now. Funds raised will be used by the charity to continue their programme of support and training to help unlock the potential of people with Down’s syndrome and their families and carers.

Visit cheshiredownssyndrome.com, call 01606 246171 or email admin@cdssgroup.org.uk