Story
<p><em><strong>Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page. Thank you so much to all those that have supported us in raising this money. They all completed the Fun Run and we are so very proud of them. There is still time to donate on this page if you would like to congratulate them in this way.</strong></em></p>
<p><strong><em><span style="color: #000000;">A group of young men with Down's syndrome are taking part in the Swindon Fun Run on Sunday 9th October. They are aiming to raise as much as possible to fund their weekly Speech and Language Therapy Group. </span></em><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: &amp;quot;Comic Sans MS&amp;quot;; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: &amp;quot;Comic Sans MS&amp;quot;;">The ability to communicate is such a basic need. It enables us to communicate choice, feelings, needs and to socialise. Can you imagine always being given blackcurrant to drink when what you really want is a cup of tea but don’t have the ability to communicate that. Can you imagine wanting to join in with your friends in a conversation about TV programme but not be understood because your speech is too unclear or being hurt by someone and in danger but not have the words to tell someone.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: &amp;quot;Comic Sans MS&amp;quot;; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: &amp;quot;Comic Sans MS&amp;quot;;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Group sessions are about increasing vocabulary, clarity of speech, understanding of language, teaching signs but most of all increasing their confidence and self–esteem by encouraging them to speak and giving them the structure and words that they need. They are not only encouraged to speak to the therapist, teaching assistants and parents but to each other. They give each other instructions – becoming the teacher – they ask each other questions and share news with each other over a snack. Far too often our young people will only speak to familiar adults who they know will understand them. The Group aims to widen that. They will all enter the big, wide world where you make friends, work with colleagues and communicate with your care givers by speaking and we must encourage them to do that from an early age by giving them the skills, praise and practise within a caring but challenging environment.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span>Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.</p>
<p>So please dig deep and donate now.</p>