MP joins the fantastic fundraisers

children with their mothers
In Rush Common yesterday (l-r) Mariam (Orla’s mum), MP Bell, Suzanne for Bell’s office, Orla, Zephy, and Sarah (Zephy’s mum) 

Local MP Bel Ribeiro-Addy yesterday (27 October) joined children and their mothers on Rush Common in Brixton on one of their fundraising walks for a local Down’s Syndrome charity.

As the Blog reported a couple of weeks ago, 15 children are hoping to raise up to £35,000 for the charity by walking, crawling, running, scooting, cycling and swimming, to cover between them the equivalent distance from Land’s End to Peckham, where Down’s South London is based.

It offers a unique package of early intervention speech and language therapy, physiotherapy and sensory therapy, delivered by a team of highly skilled therapists with specialist knowledge of how young children with Down’s Syndrome develop.

The children have already raised more than £26,000. The charity has seen a £50,000 shortfall this year due to the impact of the pandemic, with fundraising activities curtailed and donations falling.

Bell Ribeiro-Addy, Labour MP for Streatham, said: “I’m blown away by the fantastic fundraising efforts of Orla, Zephy, and all 15 children on the Down’s South London team.

two children
Zephy (left) and Orla

“So many charities have seen their income slashed by the pandemic, but are fighting on to provide their vital services as usual.

woman with two children
MP Bell with Orla and Zephy

“These children have already managed to raise a staggering amount of money for the charity they love at an incredibly challenging time.

“I’m with them every step of the way and encourage everyone to get behind their campaign.”

You can contribute here