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Our youngest child, Thalia, is 5 years old.
Like any other child, she brings us joy, worries, anxieties, happiness, and fills our lives with love and inspiration.
And like only 1 in 1000 children, Thalia has Down Syndrome ...
We announced Thalia's birth with the words: 'Thalia Skye was born on 17th February at 12.39am; we celebrate her arrival into our family and treasure her for who she is and who she will become'.
Those words remain as true today as they did then.
In the months following Thalia's birth, we met up with other families in similar circumstances for support and to share our experiences. In these relationships, the seeds for what was to become 'Sunshine & Smiles' were sown.
Amazingly, in a city the size of Leeds, there was no established support network, charity or service specifically for families with children who have Down Syndrome. But gradually, the efforts and commitment of a few parents grew a network of support, eventually becoming the small, vibrant, local charity that 'Sunshine & Smiles' is today. You can read more about the invaluable work we do through the link on this page.
In honour of Thalia, and all the other amazing children and families we have had the privilege to know, I hope my fundraising challenge will, in some small way, contribute to the work of Sunshine & Smiles.
On 18th & 19th July 2015, myself, and 2 friends (Mike and Max) will be riding the new, long-distance mountain bike route, The Sandstone Way. This 120 miles (nearly 200km) mountain biking route between Berwick upon Tweed and Hexham travels along the Sandstone Ridge in North Northumberland.
Those of you who know me, and my love of biking, will be unsurprised at the choice of challenge! Clearly, I intend to enjoy the experience, but it will also be a step up from anything I've done on a bike before, so a degree of 'suffering for a worthy cause will hopefully inspire you to give, either modestly, or generously!
Thankyou!
