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World Down Syndrome Day
To celebrate and support World Down Syndrome Day, Accrington Lions Club organised a family fun day with a little help from the Hollyoaks’ cast.
Two-year-old Eva, who plays baby Minnie who has Down’s syndrome on the TV show, was certainly the centre of attention at the event. Eva, who has starred on the show since she was 4 month olds, was joined by Nikki Sanderson who plays her screen mum, Maxine. Club President, Carol ‘Caz’ Moreton said: “Nikki and Eva have a fantastic on and off screen relationship which is evident to everyone who sees them together... I have a direct link to Eva as I and fellow Lion Suzzan are both nanas to Eva”.
The event started last year at a small event in a local pub, Snuffy’s Bar, in Great Harwood. Last year, the Club raised £1500, with over £500 being raised by Eva’s Uncle Ant shaving his biker’s beard off so this year they had to work extra hard to reach that target. The funds were donated to the Down Syndrome Association.
This year it was a bigger event with additional stall holders, bouncy castle and children’s small fun fair rides. The primary aim of the event was to give the public an awareness of Down’s syndrome and the positive ways it affects the lives of children and adults who have the condition and dispel some of the myths surrounding
the condition.
Caz said: “As the theme this year was communication we decided to do a sing and sign session. This was led by Rachel Shatliff and members of the East Lancs Down’s Syndrome Support Group including Rachel’s son Lucas, Alana Lorente (who is Eva’s mum) and myself. There was a rendition of some popular songs and nursery rhymes including Twinkle Twinkle and Old MacDonald had a Farm. Some of us were far better at the signing than
the singing!
Snuffy’s Bar managers, Pat and Debs, had asked last year what they could do to support the event. We had asked if they could decorate the room in blue and yellow which as well as being the colours of Lions is also the colour of Down’s Syndrome awareness and go with a theme of butterflies which is also a symbol of awareness. We walked in expecting a few balloons and streamers to find that they had repainted the bar in blue and yellow, had two butterfly walls and blue lights all around the bar. The new look bar was such a hit with the customers that the decor stayed. Lion Richard provided his disco and Lion Gary Britland, his photography
both free.
Our friendly Lion was also popular with children and adults alike. Everyone was encouraged to wear odd socks on the day as this is another symbol of awareness as they are the same,
but different.”
The publicity for the event involved poster and flyers being distributed to all the local schools as children and teens were the target audience, the East Lancashire Down’s Syndrome Support Group promoted it on their Facebook page and Accrington Lions set it up as an event on their Facebook page. Myth-busting facts on Downs were posted on the events page on a daily basis before the event.
Individuals and local businesses donated over 60 raffle prizes. Accrington Stanley donated tickets and other memorabilia and even Portsmouth FC who had played Stanley before the event sent a signed shirt courtesy of Lion Jeff who is a supervisor at Stanley. These items were auctioned off on the day.
Over £1,400 was raised and the money has been ring-fenced by Accrington Lions to support local individuals who have Down’s Syndrome and local support groups.
The Club has already being asked if they will organise the event for next year. Pat and Debs are retiring from the pub trade and the venue will not be available. The Lions have already been approached by a local high school offering their school hall and grounds for next year’s event so here’s to bigger and better things! This definitely gives the club the opportunity to raise further awareness and get the pupils involved with an odd sock day on the 21st. Watch
this space!
World Down Syndrome Day is the 21st March of each year, the reason being that it is the 21st set of chromosomes that has three instead of two.
October/November 2016
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