Did you know there are around 40,000 people in the UK who happen to have Down Syndrome ?

Lydia is 27, she is super cheeky; loves the boys, loves hanging out with ‘the girls’, enjoys walking for miles, loves a chai latte, dabbles in Pilates, dances to heavy r’n’b (with really rude words) or MJ (she knows every move), listening to music at 10000 decibels, baking (and eating most of the mix), watching musicals, obsessed with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, adores Sarah Hopkins (if you know, you know), ADORES chocolate, steals all my clothes, knows every swear word under the sun ... she is witty, she is hilarious, she is smart, she is beautiful. Lydia is my sister. And she happens to have Down Syndrome.

Lydia is fortunate that she has brilliant speech and she can communicate fairly clearly. She also uses makaton, a type of sign language to communicate when she can’t quite get her words out. She has a slight stutter but otherwise can hold a conversation for hours.

If it wasn’t for her 121support throughout school and college and her Speech and Language therapists, she might never have spoken or communicated as she does today.

Downright Excellent are a brilliant charity based in Hackney London who I have volunteered for since 2018. Their core focus is helping people with DS reach and maximise their potential. They provide a number of services for children across London who happen to have DS. One of these services is speech and language therapy and their amazing team of dedicated clinicians provide a phenomenal and life changing service, giving young people with DS a voice.

Now is my time to give back and say thank you to all the wonderful people past and present, who have entered Lydia’s life and enabled her to communicate.

Please join me and my friends in Downright Excellent’s Take on 21 Challenge throughout March to run, walk or cycle a collective 2,100 miles to honour World Down Syndrome day on March 21st and Down Syndrome Awareness Week 15th - 21st March!

Every pound we raise will go directly to the provision of essential services to ensure people with DS live a fulfilled and happy life, full of words, full of life skills, and full of love.

Thank You!

Matilda