Boy, 8, to run 21km to raise awareness of Down syndrome

Louie (left) wants the world to know how great his little brother Tommy (right is)

An eight-year-old boy from Rochdale is running 21km to raise awareness of Down syndrome.

The eldest of three brothers, Louie Squibbs will run 3km per day for a week in March to raise money and awareness for ‘Positive about Down Syndrome’, a UK charity that provides information and support to new and expectant parents of a child with the condition.

Down syndrome is a genetic condition in which some, or all, of a person’s cells have an extra chromosome. Those born with Down syndrome have three copies of chromosome 21 in each cell, instead of two. People with Down syndrome will have some level of learning disability although this varies in severity between individuals.

Louie’s younger sibling Tommy, two, has Down syndrome and the eight-year-old is keen to show the world just how great his brother is.

He begins his running challenge on 14 March before finishing his last 3km on 21 March, which is World Down Syndrome day.

And middle brother Reggie, five, is not to be outdone, as he will be fundraising too by seeing how many penalties he can score in three minutes. Reggie also adores his brother and regularly reads to him and shares his toys with him.

Their mum, Charlotte said: “Having a brother with Down syndrome is new to him but he wants everyone to know that just because he’s got Down syndrome doesn’t make him any different. He’s unique and he’s special."

“He’s got another brother as well but with Tommy, he’s just extra caring and extra proud of everything he does.”

You can donate to Louie’s 21km challenge here.