Fundraisers rise to charity challenge
A pupil at the Mount Church Of England School, Newark, helped to organise an after-school cake sale to raise money for the Down’s Syndrome Association.
The event was in conjunction with Down’s Syndrome Awareness Day, a globally-recognised event to raise awareness of the condition.
It is held on March 21 to signify the extra 21st chromosome that causes the congenital disorder.
Joshua Joyce, 9, who has Down’s Syndrome, and his mother, Mrs Zoe Robson, sold four cakes for £1 and Easter cupcakes for £5, making £250.
Joshua said: “It has been fun.”
Mrs Robson said: “We want to raise awareness as much as we can and do our bit to help because there is not enough knowledge out there.”
Proceeds went to the Down’s Syndrome Association, a charity that has more than 20,000 members and helps people with the condition to live full and rewarding lives.
Teaching assistant Mrs Susan Anderson, who has mentored Joshua since he joined the school in 2012, said: “It was completely manic after the gates opened, so it was definitely worth holding the event.”
Bunting was made from odd socks as people wore odd socks and used the hashtag #LotsofSocks on social media to raise awareness of the cause.
'Extremely proud of our diverse community'
Mrs Anderson said: “I went into town with my odd socks proudly on display and no one asked me why I was wearing them, which showed that knowledge of awareness days and the condition itself is not out there enough.”
As part of the awareness day, the school did a carpool karaoke song, replicating a video 50 mothers created to celebrate their children with Down’s Syndrome. A video of the school’s song will be available on its website.
Head Mrs Claire Kent said: “We are extremely proud of our diverse community at Mount.
“It is important to celebrate differences and awareness.
“Joshua has done well since joining us. The progress he has made is unbelievable.
“He is in a class with other pupils, doing an adaptation of their work, including maths and writing.”
