A LITTLE three-year-old girl is throwing her support behind her mum’s team which is busy training for the Down Syndrome Centre’s 2015 VHI Women’s Mini Marathon campaign.
April Coveney, from Blackrock, has been cheering on mum Therese as she prepares to lead the team from the charity based in the Sandyford Industrial Estate ahead of the important event.
The charity is asking Southsiders to get the girls together, have a fun day out and help to provide essential services to children with Down syndrome.
A spokesperson for the charity said they were hoping to put a large team together as it will be their first mini marathon since the centre opened.
“We are based in Sandyford Industrial Estate and provide early intervention services for children with Down syndrome, focussing on the abilities of each individual child, rather than their disabilities,
? the spokesperson explained.
“We also provide information and support for families and carers of children with Down syndrome. We currently run baby massage, a Parent & Toddler group, Speech & Language therapy and SKIP, which targets all areas of a child’s development.
“We don’t receive any Government funding and therefore are reliant on the generosity of the public to support us, and allow us to continue providing these essential services. We are aiming to get over 100 ladies to join us for this year’s VHI Women’s Mini Marathon but an essential part of that will be increasing awareness around what we do.
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Therese Coveney said she was delighted to be associated with a centre that provides all the essential therapies to allow a child with Down syndrome to reach their full potential.
“There is a great comradery between the parents who attend the centre. It is a unique space that allows us to share experiences and offer knowledge and support to each other,
? she said.
“April loves SKIP and for us it has been a real lesson observing the children and what they can do rather than what they cannot.
“We look forward to many years of friendship with the centre and hope others will consider starting their own team to take part in this year’s VHI Women’s Mini Marathon and join us in raising funds for this worthwhile cause.
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The charity has been operating since October 2014 and already has a waiting list for some its services.
The Down Syndrome Centre will be hosting a pre and post-race event for all their team of supporters participating in the mini marathon. There will be a warm up party in Dandelion to get you ready for the 10k, whether you run, walk or crawl it and a post-race event to celebrate what is bound to be a fantastic day. To register for your fundraising pack contact Niamh on 01-6618000 or email niamh@downsyndromecentre.ie. For more information on the campaign and the Down Syndrome Centre visit www.downsyndromecentre.ie