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Parents and children completed a walk around a reservoir to raise around £2,000 for a Down’s Syndrome charity.

East Lancs Down’s Syndrome Support Group, which meets at Whitewell Bottom Youth Club, organised the walk around Calf Hey Reservoir in Haslingden along with a scavenger hunt.

Everyone wore silly hats, children had their faces painted, they bought home-made cakes and biscuits and took part in craft activities.

Rachel and Phil Shatliff, whose nine-year-old son Lucas has Down’s Syndrome, organised the support group.

Among the walkers was one of the group’s founders Joanne Emberga, 43, of Britannia, along with her husband Roy and children Martel, nine, and Linden, seven.

Joanne, who works at Rossendale Interiors, raised nearly £200 herself thanks to the generosity of colleagues.

She said: “I would like to thank everyone at JJO who supported me and also thank receptionist Janet Walker for getting sponsorship from the head office. Linden has Down Syndrome and we go to the meetings of the support group.

“The group meets on the first Saturday of the month and it is good to get to meet with parents and get support and it is good for the children to play with each other and be in a place where they don’t feel isolated.

“Linden can babble and say yes and no and he understands what they mean, he can also say mum.

“His big sister Martel has a really good relationship with him.”

The money raised will help towards a summer day out for members and a Christmas party.

The group was founded in 2011 and organises a range of speakers and activities. Recently the group was visited by Dave Benson-Phillips, who

explained about how sign language can help with communication and props were brought in so the members could dress up for a special calendar.

To find out more about the group visit www.eldssg.co.uk/or email eastlancsdssg@aol.co.uk

Down’s Syndrome affects around one in 1,000 babies and there are about 40,000 people living with the condition in the UK.