Smurfs and co in walk for fundraising cause

STUART PIKE

ASEA of blue and yellow characters, heroes and villains have done a sponsored walk to raise money for East Lancashire Down’s Syndrome Support Group.

The event, at Calf Hey Reservoir in Haslingden, raised more than £4,000 for the charity which has its base in Rossendale, but has members from all over the area.

It was founded by families in 2011 when they struggled to find support that was available on a weekend and therefore accessible for the whole family.

Manager Phil Shatliff and his wife Rachel, from Helmshore - two of the original group founders - said the eighth walk they have held around Calf Hey had the second highest turnout ever, 91 people.

Phil said: “Calf Hey is ideal because the paths are pram and wheelchairfriendly so it is fully accessible. The walk is about a mile, so enough of a challenge for the younger members, but it also allows people to walk round more that once if they wish. One superhero completed five laps of the reservoir.”

The first walk in 2010 raised money for the national Down’s Syndrome Society, but since 2011 it has become the major fundraiser for the self-supporting group.

Phil, whose son Lucas is 11 and has Down’s Syndrome, dressed as Homer Simpson for the walk.

He added: “As well as the walk we had a stall selling cakes, as one of our members used to run a bakery, and refreshments and there was a scavenger hunt for the children. People who often walk the reservoir remembered seeing us before and generously donated.”

Trustee Joanne Emberga, from Bacup, her husband Roy, daughter Martel, 10, and eight-yearold son Linden, who has Down’s Syndrome, dressed as Smurfs for the walk and won the bestdressed family category.

Joanne, who works at Rossendale Interiors in Stacksteads, said: “I enjoy the fun aspect of us all dressing up to do the walk and it was a lovely afternoon. This year we didn’t even take Linden’s wheelchair and he was able to walk the whole way round. He loved it, to be socialising with his friends.

“It was also great to meet everyone and it was good to have support from the other families in the group.”

The group meets every ●● The Emberga family – Roy and Joanne with children Martel and Linden – all dressed as Smurfs at the Calf Hey reservoir walk in Haslingden first Saturday of the month at Whitewell Bottom Community Centre with the next meeting on July 1. See www.eldssg.co.uk or email eastlancsdssg@aol. co.uk