Rochdale DS All Stars celebrate Down’s syndrome awareness month with sponsored walk

Rochdale DS All Stars team half way round Hollingworth Lake

To mark the end of Down’s Syndrome Awareness Month, 28 members of the newly-launched Rochdale DS All Stars walked, toddled or were pushed round Hollingworth Lake this weekend in a sponsored walk that has so far raised at least £1,025 to help support the local Down’s syndrome community.

The walk was held not only to kick off fundraising efforts for the new group but also to help bring children and families together. 

To further boost funds, and awareness, founders Lalain Meskyzadeh and Emma Lambert, both of whom have daughters with Down’s syndrome, also undertook a 21km hike on 21 October. 

The walk, which took them through Healey Dell, round Cowm Reservoir and through to Bacup, saw them leave a pebble painted by individuals with Down’s syndrome at every kilometre of their journey.

Claire Minett, chair of Rochdale DS All Stars said: “For our first event, we really wanted to put the fun into fundraising and looking at the smiles of the children and their families as we walked, we certainly achieved that. We couldn’t be prouder of our members. 

“Not only did they do brilliantly on the fundraising front but for some of our younger members, it was the furthest they’d ever walked so it was a massive personal achievement for them too.”

“It was also great to be able to introduce new families to one another and see them exchanging stories and experiences as they walked, while it also proved a fabulous opportunity for awareness raising too with fellow walkers stopping to offer us encouragement and find out a little bit more about Down’s syndrome.”

For further information about the group, which offers friendship and support for those with Down’s syndrome and their families, search Rochdale DS All Stars on Facebook and Instagram or to make a donation, visit https://gofund.me/d3c5c5a6.