We are fund raising for Down Syndrome research, supporting a small UK charity that funds biomedical research into Down Syndrome.  To do this, a team from HgCapital, our portfolio companies, and friends are seeking to run the 160+ miles, non-stop, from London to Cardiff.  The 12 of us will be taking it turns, with our minibus crawling along behind.  Our goal is also to break the 24hr mark.

Some further background on who we are raising money for:

Understanding of DS has advanced enormously in recent years; life expectancy has increased from just 12 in the 1960s to 65 today, and many people with DS grow up to have very fulfilled lives.  There have been amazing advances in understanding the genetic basis of some of the characteristics of DS, as genomes have been sequenced and neuroscience techniques have advanced. 

However, there is still a long way to go – the majority of people with DS develop Alzheimer’s disease in their 30s or 40s and most still face huge challenges in living independent lives.

Meanwhile, research into DS is seriously underfunded, with less
than £50 spent on research per person (compared to an estimated £1,800 for cystic fibrosis).

The Down Syndrome Research Foundation funds ground breaking medical research focused on improve cognition, including memory, learning and speech, for individuals with Down syndrome so they:

•           participate more successfully in school

•           lead more active and independent lives, and

•           avoid the early onset of Alzheimer's Disease

With your help we believe we can speed up the pace of research to scientific breakthroughs that will support the millions of people with Down Syndrome around the world.