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Today, we celebrate Steve's incredible achievement in completing the Milton Keynes marathon! Not only did he cross the finish line with determination and perseverance, but he also raised over £3,000. A huge thank you from everyone at Ups 'n' Downs, Steve! Your efforts make a significant difference, and we are deeply grateful for your support.
Steve shares, “I worry about what the future holds and what challenges are ahead for Tayla. How she will see and cope in the big wide world and how others see and treat her.
Well, there’s a group or team, a community of people that feel those same feelings so can empathise. They don’t just sit back though. No, they train, they plan, they inform and they push for change. They do it in different ways but with the same goal. They don’t stop at 26.2 miles… they keep going! They are Ups n Downs!
I wanted to do something and that’s why I ran a marathon. When you tell people you are running a marathon it gets their attention, I think it’s because it’s something we can all relate to. So, it was a great platform to work from and get people to watch the video. From there Tayla took over.
I booked the marathon six months before and followed a training schedule and healthy eating plan. I wanted to give it everything I had to show Tayla that we all have to work at things.
It all went better than I could have imagined raising over £3000 and coming across the finish line in 3hrs 33min. I had great fun doing it too. In the grand scheme of things it was just a small contribution, just a small step. But it was another step forward with Ups n Downs.
Let's all keep it going.”
Proud member of Ups & Downs Steve (aka little old man)
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RIDING FOR UPS 'N' DOWNS 2024
SUNDAY 14TH JULY 2024
Register to take parthttps://bit.ly/riding24
Join us for our annual charity fundraiser for Ups 'n' Downs, on Sunday 14th July. Every pound raised will make a huge difference to children and adults with Down’s Syndrome. Come and help join us celebrate the Riding for Ups n Downs 10th anniversary ride, with over £100,000 raised for the Northamptonshire charity since we started. This year promises to be even bigger and better, marking another milestone in this charitable endeavour.When we started in 2015, there were only 34 of us, and we rode 90 miles. Since then we have gradually increased in number, and encourage as many riders, of all abilities, to come and support us, but most importantly, to enjoy themselves.
ABOUT THE EVENT
Join us at Earls Barton Cricket Club (The Grange Sportsfield, Northampton Road, Earls Barton, Northamptonshire, NN6 0HF) for our annual charity ride, on Sunday 14th July, now comprising of 3 amazing route options (100, 50 and 25 miles) starting and finishing at the same location.In the week before the ride, we are also staging a virtual event - take part wherever you are in the world and log your cycling miles.Riders, get ready to be greeted with a warm welcome as we celebrate your arrival back at the Club. Indulge in a scrumptious BBQ, be entertained by live music, and participate in a variety of activities suitable for the entire family to enjoy!
CURRENT EVENT SCHEDULE
- 100 mile riders turn up at 7.00am for a 7.30am start.
- 50 mile riders turn up at 10.00am for a 10.30am start.
- 25 milers, it’s 11.00am for an 11.30am start.
There is also a virtual ride option where you can take part wherever you are and cover as much or as little distance as you like,
WALK OPTION
We have also been asked for a walk option this year. Our walk will also leave at 11.30am for a walk (approximately 4.5 miles) to and around Sywell Country Park. The drinks stops (100 and 50 miler only) will be released nearer the time. Volunteers from the charity will be manning the stops, so please say hello. Also keep a look out for subsequent messages here, as well as the WHATSAPP GROUP (PLEASE sign up to this group as it’s the quickest way to get urgent messages to all riders) email and social media, as hot weather (hopefully will not be brutally hot like our 2022 ride) may mean that we bring the start times forward. In 2023, we also had to alter the long route 3 days in advance due to unforeseen roadworks, so keep your eyes peeled and keep in touch.T shirts for riders will be available for collection upon registration on both the Saturday and Sunday. We will have enough for all riders who book before 24th May but cannot guarantee T shirts after that date. Last years sizings were very generous, and we are using the same supplier this year, so we recommend ordering a size smaller than you would normally choose.
Sizing Chart
The shorter Routes will be clearly signed, however the 100 miler will NOT (long riders are expected to download the route onto their cycling computers). These routes will be available below nearer the time, and will also be on the WhatsApp group.
PRICING:
Ride
100 mile ride - £40
50 and 25 miler - £30
All these options include a guaranteed T Shirt in your size, if ordered before the 24th May
Virtual Ride
Virtual riders - £10 (virtual family £20)
Walk
Walkers - £10 (family £20)
WHY TAKE PART?
Riding for Ups 'n' Downs is the perfect opportunity to come together and make a difference while having fun and getting active. Whether you're an experienced cyclist or just looking for a leisurely ride with friends and family, this event is open to all abilities.We are really looking forward to the event, please feel free to invite friends and family to join the ride, or the drinks and BBQ and raffle from 12.30pm onwards back at the Earls Barton Cricket Club.
For more information about the ride, please email Farah:
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The Easter Bunny has paid a visit!
Huge thanks to the wonderful staff at GXO Logistics, Wellingborough for their generous donation of Easter eggs and £200 in cash for our lovely charity members. A special shoutout to Lee Whitehead, who works at GXO, for his ongoing support. We're incredibly grateful for the kindness and generosity shown by GXO. Happy Easter to all!
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Last month, our UpsnDowns Summer Social 2021 took place at Wicksteed Park, Kettering, home to our annual UpsnDowns Charity Dinner.
Lots of families, including some new faces, joined in the fun at Wicksteed. It has been a very long time since we were able to get together face to face, and we certainly made the most of it.
Families met up at the park and enjoyed a picnic together, followed by an hour of crazy bubble-mania with our wonderful drama teacher, Karen Harvey. The children loved it as you can see from the photos!
Everyone was issued with park bands to enable them to enjoy the rides and the animals, if they wanted too.
Despite the weather being slightly chilly (typical August), everyone had a brilliant time. All children left with a goody bag containing a teddy, a hat, a fidget popper, biscuits, and sweets.
Thanks goes to Donna McAvoy and Karen Smith for organising it all.
Special thanks go to Kim Good, Kinga Waksmundska and Louisa Digby who all trekked to the summit of Kinder Scout, raising lots of money for UpsnDowns so that we could organise and enjoy a charity day out.
We look forward to the next get together soon.
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From the 9-18th July 2021, we invited cyclists to join our second virtual cycling sportif to support and fundraise for UpsnDowns. With last year's virtual sportif being such a huge success, the pressure was on!
With a lot of uncertainty surrounding Covid-19 restrictions and government guidelines, the sportif organisers opted to stick to the virtual format again this year, inviting individual cyclists, families and children to join us and cycle some miles for UpsnDowns.
The weather was very warm as was the competition against other cycling events taking place at the same time. However, we managed to raised a record-breaking £12,000 this year with 98 riders, some incredible fundraising and some very generous sponsors.
A special mention goes to the following people:
- Charlie Cockburn and his family cycled 74 miles and raised £1200.
- ATA Garryson employees cycled a combined 1400 miles raising over £1400.
- Donna McAvoy, one of our parents, cycled 200 miles on her training bike. She has never cycled this far in her life, until now!
- Steve Hunkin, another parent, raised £1140 and cycled 335 miles.
- John Hewitt raised £1730 and cycled 359 miles.
- Team Fighting Fit raised over £300.
Special thanks goes to our incredibly generous and loyal sponsors:
Steve Holliday, Ki-Tran, AFP Services, Higgins, Howdens, Snowdon Homes Ltd, ATA, Gibbs & Dandy, DCS, & Harlow Timber Systems.
The biggest 'thank you' goes to the wonderful Riding for UpsnDowns Committee, who dedicate many hours of their free time to organise this hugely successful annual fundraising event. We are eternally grateful for your support.
We look forward to 2022 when hopefully we can revert back to our one-day sportif, starting and finishing at the Earls Barton Cricket Club.
If this has inspired you to organise a fundraiser for UpsnDowns, please get in touch with
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