Star grandad goes the extra mile for grandson with Down’s syndrome

It’s not every charity that can boast its logo has been seen on sets for programmes such as The Voice, Dancing on Ice and Strictly Come Dancing, but thanks to the actions of kind-hearted Wardle grandad, Steven Reeve, and his employer, Movement Control, Rochdale DS All Stars has earned major bragging rights.

Proud grandad Steven, 55, wanted to raise some positive awareness about Down’s syndrome and help boost the profile of the support group attended by his eldest grandson, Brandon, 12. 

As a lorry driver, he realised that the best way he could support visibility for the condition would be to have his cab branded and so he approached his bosses to ask for their permission.

He explained: “I have a very close relationship with Brandon and think the world of him, as I do all my grandchildren. Last year, when Rochdale DS All Stars started running some weekend sessions, I was able to attend Brandon’s support group for the first time and seeing him and all the other children enjoying themselves there - and knowing how much my daughter, Brandon’s mum, and my wife get from it too - I wanted to do my bit to help.

“The company I work for design and build sets for some of the country’s most popular programmes, and I thought it’d be brilliant if I could get the Rochdale DS All Stars logo and some other Down’s syndrome awareness images on my cab.  If just one person learns a bit more about the condition while seeing my lorry out and about then it’ll have been more than worth it, and I really thank Movement Control for helping me do that.”

 

 

The cab was recently unveiled at one of the support group’s family sessions, where children and their parents were able to see the branding up close. 

Claire Minett, Rochdale DS All Stars chair, said:  “When Steven first told us what he’d done and showed us some pictures online, we were thrilled but to see it in real life was very exciting, especially for some of our younger members.

“Quite apart from it being a lovely thing to do to raise our community’s profile, it also speaks volumes about just how proud Steven is of Brandon and his family, and as a group, we couldn’t be more delighted to have such a generous and engaged grandad in our midst.  We really do appreciate his support.” 

Ben Crowther, who runs EC Creative Services, which owns the Fieldhouse Industrial Estate based Movement Control, alongside sister Charlotte, added: “Steven is a very dedicated grandad and talks about his family a lot at work so as a family-run business, we did not hesitate to act when he asked us if he could brand his cab. 

“We are thrilled that it’s got the thumbs up from Brandon and the rest of the group and are glad to have helped a local charity that is just starting out.”

Rochdale DS All Stars is a volunteer-run group offering friendship and support to Rochdale’s Down syndrome community. 

It offers quarterly family fun sessions, monthly parent coffee mornings and monthly baby and toddler sessions, alongside regular parent wellbeing sessions.