On the 16th September, in a team of three, we are rowing the distance of the river Thames on an indoor rowing machine. The total distance of the river Thames is 346km, for context, the 24-hour world record for 10 men our age is 380km, so we expect this to run into the 30-hour mark. The stipulation we have is that one person must be rowing at all times.

About DS Achieve...

DS Achieve is a registered charity formed by parents of children with Down Syndrome. DS Achieve empower the families of children with Down Syndrome to enable them to fulfil their potential, whatever that may be. Their range of services involve either working directly with children and young people with Down Syndrome or with their parents and professionals to provide the tools they need to maximise progression and development for children/young people with Down Syndrome.

DS Achieve provide educational and training programmes for families, children and professionals. Alongside this, DS Achieve provide an early years intervention programme called 'Little Achievers', and training for parents and carers on topics like SEN law, school and the EHCP process. As a charity formed by parents who have experienced similar situations, they also run a closed Facebook group which provides a forum for families to share information and advice with one another.

Why did we choose DS achieve?

DS Achieve is a local, Hertfordshire based charity entirely funded by grants and donations including those from The National Lottery, BBC Children in Need, Aviva, Watford Borough Council and Hertfordshire Community Foundation. This charity was formed by parents of children with Down Syndrome, one of those parents being Kelly Harris, Aunt of both Ryan and Connor. Kelly’s daughter Scarlett, featured both on the DS Achieve website and our event poster, has never let Down Syndrome stop her from achieving, thriving and becoming the most kind and caring, intelligent, hardworking (and very witty) young girl she is today, and that can only be accredited to the hard work of her parents, and the charity that supports Scarlett and all of her friends at DS Achieve.

A Quote From DS Achieve

“Potential may be centred on education, social inclusion, sporting achievement, personal happiness, good health and wellbeing, or other personal family goals. All families' goals are different and our aim is to support those goals in whatever way we can, while having fun and making new friends along the way!”

The three of us would like to firstly thank DS Achieve for their continuous hard work, allowing us to represent them and their charity, and to Puregym Stevenage for allowing us to use their facilities to do so.

Help us, help DS Achieve to continue to provide the vital support they do!