What a year!! HDSSG 2012 Round Up
Huddersfield Down Syndrome have had a fantastic year. Here’s a summary of some of the things HDSSG and our families have been up to in 2012!
Our members and their families have enjoyed lots of fabulous social and sporting opportunities including hydrotherapy swimming sessions, ten pin bowling, yoga and soft play sessions. We have sailed down the Huddersfield waterways with Safe Anchor Trust and had a day at the seaside, visiting Blackpool’s Sea Life Centre. Many of our families also attended our annual Christmas Party and we still have our trip to the pantomime to see the brilliant production of Cinderella to look forward to – ‘Oh yes we do!’
We have watched our talented members who swim with the BOK disability team win medal after medal, represent team GB at the World Down Syndrome Swimming Championships in Italy and secure places at the Special Olympics that take place in Bath next year. We are so proud of ALL our swimmers….
HDSSG’er Joanne Kempley had the extraordinary honour of being an Olympic Torchbearer in June. Many of our families and friends lined the streets to cheer Joanne on as she carried the flame through the streets of Brighouse.
HDSGS’er Ruben Reuter has had some exciting adventures this year also, including singing with his school at the Royal Albert Hall and being filmed for a new series of ‘My Life’ a children’s documentary that will air on CBBC in February 2013. Ruben stars in an episode titled ‘Breaking Free’. Brilliant!!
We welcomed some very exciting visitors including Singing Hands and the team from Something Special magazine who included a few of our children in their August and September issues! Our HDSSG’ers got another opportunity to model – for Shabang’s fabulous 2013 Calendar – Our children are most definitely ‘Not Just Models but Role Models’ ….
We also launched our own targeted Speech & Language sessions ‘Tiny Talkers’ for our early years group as well planning for a brand new social enterprise opportunity for our post 16 members.
We celebrated World Down Syndrome Day on March 21st with our neighbours Wakefield & District Down Syndrome Support Group at Nostell Priory joined by many many families and friends – it was a great day and one which we hope to make bigger and better for 2013!
HDSSG would like to thank everyone for their fundraising efforts over the last 12 months – The lovely gang at Skelmanthorpe Cricket Club for the super Jubilee fundraiser – despite the weather! The fantastic West Yorkshire firefighters led by Huddersfield Red Watch Commander Darren Bagley, who completed the Firefighters Sailing Challenge and came first! All the guys and gals that have run many miles for us this year – including Jane Cook, Andy Proctor and Jenny and Tim Hayes. We must also thank everyone who collected Examiner Wish Tokens for us and the shoppers who popped their green tokens in the collection in Asda Huddersfield. All the families and friends that have bought our HDSSG hoodies, T Shirts and bags expertly embroidered by Atomic Gifts Ltd. The staff and pupils at Royds Hall High School for raising funds and most importantly awareness on World Down Syndrome Day. Katie & Harry Sykes for funding the launch of our New Parent Booklets and our Virgin money Giving button! Everyone who attended our Body Shop Party & raffle night who raised funds to help our members who will be representing Yorkshire & Humberside at the Special Olympics in 2013 as well the very generous businesses that donated prizes. Also a massive ‘Thank You’ to the Community Spirit Charity Shop in Slaithwaite and Local Care Direct for their generous donations this year. The staff and pupils at All Saint’s School for the fantastic collection. I must also mention the lovely Helen at For You, With Love who continues to donate a percentage of all her sales from homemade cakes and crafts to our group. Apologies if I have omitted anyone from the massive list of generous supporters….
THANK YOU!!
Huge thanks to EVERYONE involved in planning and organising events and opportunities for our group. Special mentions to Kim Reuter for everything she does for our children and also to Bernie Egan for taking the time to train for, plan and deliver our Tiny Talkers programme.
On behalf of all the committee at Huddersfield Down Syndrome Support Group I would like to thank all our families and friends for your continued support. We would like to wish you all a very merry Christmas and a very happy and healthy New Year! See you in 2013 for lots more exciting things!