Our fundraisers We are very grateful to all of our fundraisers who give their time, energy and creativity to raise money for us. You make our work possible! Here are a few of our recent fundraisers: Lisa Ross Lisa Ross of Paper Daisy Creations organised a Knit-a-long; sock knitters from all over the world were encouraged to cast-on brightly coloured socks to wear on WDSD! Designers sold digital designs on Ravelry with all the proceeds going to benefit DSi. They raised £12,993.60. A huge thank you to Lisa and all of the knitters who took part. Ed Low Ed ran the London Marathon 2018 for us, breaking the Guinness World Record for fastest marathon dressed as a padlock and raising over £2000! Thanks Ed! The Elizabethan Inn In Devon, this lovely country pub and restaurant are fundraising for both DSi and DSA(UK) for the entire year. They have been donating 50 pence from each one of a specially chosen dessert each season. In addition to this, they have been selling books and socks, hosted a pamper party and sponsored a hole at our Damon Hill Golf Day. Watch this space for the grand total at the end of the year... Thank you Elizabethan Inn. Lympstone Manor Owner and proprietor, Michael Caines MBE and some of the staff at the beautiful Lympstone Manor, wore their #LotsOfSocks with pride on World Down Syndrome Day this year. They also donated 50 pence from every diner throughout March and April, raising a fantastic £1,238.08. Thank you Lympstone Manor. Lucas Edwards Lucas Edwards, his mother Eva and students from Gresham School in Norfolk wore #LotsOfSocks and made and sold bracelets for World Down Syndrome Day. Their hard work raised £3,000 for DSi's project work. Thanks Lucas! Zero To Hero Runners In 2014 Dick Griffin along with two close friends Lisa Richards and Jo Clarke started Zero to Hero Runners, a voluntary, running course to encourage people to run, get fit and have fun at the same time. They introduced a 10 week programme taking people from zero running to a 5km parkrun. Since their first course which attracted 14 people, their numbers have risen to over 600. In 2016 they were also shortlisted for Sports Club of the Year at the London Sport Awards. Last September a friend encouraged me to go along to the beginners group, the course was fantastic, it really was the best thing I had done in a long time. Everyone involved does so voluntarily and the support and encouragement from the coaches is amazing. Through joining the group I have met old friends and made many new friends, it is full of great camaraderie, with everyone looking out for each other. Zero to Hero Runners also contribute substantially to charities, the course is free so money is raised for a chosen charity at the end of each beginners course. I have a 14 year old son, Joshua, who has Down syndrome. Over the years we have benefited greatly from the Down's Syndrome Association, accessing various courses, picking up useful information, speaking to people on the helpline who have given us invaluable advice. Joshua also plays for the Upbeats at Charlton Athletic which is part of the fantastic DSActive scheme. I was so pleased when in March this year Zero to Hero Runners chose the Down's Syndrome Association and Down Syndrome International as their two charities. Graduation day coincided with Down's Syndrome Awareness Week. There was also a regular run on World Down Syndrome Day where I did a cake sale and the Runners raised further funds. The Runners approached the graduation run with great enthusiasm and got into the spirit of the 'Lots of Socks' theme wearing brightly coloured socks. It really was a great event! If anyone lives in the Bromley area and fancies giving running a go, do visit the Zero to Hero Runners website www.zerotoherorunners.co.uk, it could change your life too! Sarah Berkeley Fundraise for us Set up your fundraising page