In 2007 Simon Beresford, from Lichfield, UK, became the first person with Down syndrome to complete the London Marathon. Simon completed the gruelling event with his good friend and training partner John Dawson in a time of 6 hours and 15 minutes, representing a fantastic achievement.
Simon really enjoyed the whole experience and found himself bitten by the running bug. In 2008, he was back again in London and knocked 31 minutes off his time to come in at 5 hours and 44 minutes. He has since completed the same race for a third time, has completed the Berlin Marathon 2 times, and has run 3 further marathons in Fürth, Germany in addition to various half marathon events in the UK. Held up against everyone in society Simon would be classed as an elite athlete.
Simon was a guest of honour at the 2008 Fürth marathon and inspired Laufclub 21, a 21 strong group of German relay runners with Down syndrome, to take up running and complete their marathons. For his efforts he received a special “Golden Chromosome” Award for Outstanding Achievement.
To date through his achievements Simon has raised in excess of £20,000 for the Down's Syndrome Association (UK) and has inspired many people of various abilities to take up running. In 2008, he was also a top ten finalist in Everyclick.com’s “Britain’s Most Inspiring Fundraiser”. In 2010, he will be competing in the Staffordshire Half Marathon in the UK on World Down Syndrome Day (21st March) and once again in the Fürth Marathon in Germany on 25th June.
Running marathons however is not Simon's life but his hobby and a way for him to relax. Simon has worked on a full time basis for McDonalds for the last 17 years and is a well respected staff trainer. He is meticulous with his attention to detail, and on a daily basis is tasked with training people who do not have Down syndrome.
Simon Beresford is an inspiration to everyone he meets. Through his day-to-day life he challenges people’s common-held misconceptions about people with Down syndrome. He is a fit, charming, hard-working man with a real zest for life; he also has Down syndrome.
