Ok ok I know what you are all thinking… Go run the real McCoy Rosie! I don’t deny, I have much admiration for the folks who are dragging themselves around the full 26 miles two weeks prior to my mere half, but this year I have decided that 21.097494 km is enough for me and a great excuse to raise money for a great charity. Last year my cousin Anna and her partner Martin, welcomed beautiful Mia into the world. They were unaware that during the pregnancy Mia had developed Down's syndrome, a genetic disorder caused by the presence of all or part of a third copy of chromosome 21. Down’s syndrome is not a disease, and it is not a hereditary condition. It occurs by chance at conception. Everyone with Down’s syndrome will have some degree of learning disability, but the most important thing to remember is that everyone with Down’s syndrome is an individual, with their own personality traits that make them who they are.

There are numerous incredible charities who help support families who may feel rather overwhelmed by what it means to have a baby with Down’s syndrome, but it is Down Syndrome Ireland who continues to support Anna, Martin and Mia and has been there for them over the past year.

Down Syndrome Ireland is a national voluntary organisation that is dedicated to being the primary source of information and support to people with Down syndrome, their families and the professional community, working towards an improved quality of life. To maintain existing essential services for their members they need continued support in raising money each year and to ensure they can even begin to make serious inroads into providing essential supports for individuals with Down syndrome, they need to raise over €870,000 this year alone.

I know we all get a lot of these emails, but supporting these charities allows them to continue supporting people like little Mia. So dig deep, I’ll buy you a tipple or two at the other end if you come and support!   

 Love Rosie x