50k Steps for The Down Syndrome Centre!

Hi all

As most of you who know myself and Julie’s son Nathan was born last December and was diagnosed with Down Syndrome (T21) post birth. It came as a complete shock and not something we had ever considered or was brought up during the pregnancy. We were told by a family friend about The Down Syndrome Centre (DSC) in Swords when Nathan was just a few weeks old so we reached out to them. The DSC is Ireland’s only charity dedicated to clinical, educational and wellbeing services for children with Down syndrome from birth to 18 - and their families.

The staff in The DSC provided all the info possible to us at the time and enrolled Nathan in his first class that started recently. In the last couple of weeks and going forward over the next number of years, the DSC will help Nathan, and many more children, with various activities and classes which will greatly benefit him, starting with baby massage groups to creating playschool and primary school environments to get Nathan ready for those times. Other classes on offer at DSC are also there to assist to develop children's mobility, motor skills, communication, social skills, and independence. Supports may include physiotherapy, occupational therapy, music therapy, and/or speech and language therapy. The staff in the centre are absolutely fantastic and treat everyone with great care and attention.

The DSC was founded by Peter and Mary Gaw as a result of their frustration at not being able to access relevant services for their two youngest children, both of whom have Down Syndrome. In 2014 the first branch opened in Sandyford with the Swords branch opening in 2022. The DSC receives most of their funding through family donations of people connected to the DSC and also the business community. State funding is not a regular source of income for the DSC therefore I am trying to do my bit to raise as much money as possible, via this fundraiser. I will attach a link to the DSC website below where I have copied some lines above from which outlines in more detail the range of services offered, as I know I have not done them justice in my couple of lines.

In July (see note below!) myself, Julie and many other family/friends, as none of us can attempt to run a marathon, will be walking (or possibly hobbling) 50,000 steps in a day (approx 12 hours or so hopefully!) in order to raise money for this brilliant charity. Along with raising as much money as possible for the DSC, I thought it would be a good activity for anyone to try and aim towards in June to get their steps in and get as many people who want too, to not only donate, but to take part. I don’t plan on having a set route, again to encourage as many people anywhere to take part, so be it laps around your garden for hours on end or a huge loop around North Kildare or beyond, it would be great for people to do this also whilst sending this link onto a few friends / family to raise some funds. Anyone who is more popular online than me, please feel free to stick it on your Instagram stories also...!!

Assuming it will take approx 12 hours, I'm already looking forward to a 7pm pint followed by a 7.20pm pint in Leixlip after finishing - all welcome to join although we might be somewhere else when the watch buzzes for 50,000 steps so it might be Maynooth...or Dunboyne.

https://downsyndromecentre.ie

Thanks to all, its very much appreciated

Jack, Julie and Nathan

Update: Hi all, unfortunately we’ve had to postpone the walk from the original 21st June and then 28th June dates. Nathan has been in hospital since 19th June and we hope to have him home in very early July. 

We have been in contact with the DSC and they are aware. They are incredibly grateful for the amount of money raised as are myself and Julie. This money will benefit the DSC in so many ways and help a large amount of children in the process. 

Thanks again everyone for the support

Jack, Julie and Nathan