There’s nothing quite like the sound of laughter echoing around a pool, and that’s exactly what we had at our recent Ups ‘n’ Downs swimming party. 

Our families had such a brilliant time playing, splashing, and swimming together. It was wonderful to see the children growing in confidence in the water while parents and carers enjoyed the chance to relax, chat, and share the fun.

After all that energy in the pool, we dried off and gathered for a delicious picnic tea. A special thank you goes to our Trustee, Philippa, for organising such a thoughtful spread – it really brought everyone together to round off the afternoon perfectly.

We’d also like to say a huge thank you to Waendel Leisure Centre for hosting us. Your support makes it possible for our families to enjoy these special moments, and we are truly grateful.

Events like these are at the heart of what we do – giving our members the chance to connect, make memories, and feel supported as part of a community.

 If you’d like to support future events like this or get involved with Ups ‘n’ Downs, we’d love to hear from you. Please get in touch with Farah Cutter at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Date: Sunday 13th July 2025

Venue: Earls Barton Cricket Club

Come and help us celebrate our Riding for Ups 'n' Downs 11th anniversary ride, with over £110,000 raised for the Ups 'n' Downs since it started.

About the event

We have 3 amazing route options (100, 60 and 25 miles) starting and finishing at the same location.

The 100 mile route is named “The McCarrick” in memory of Anthony, who was a member of the 45RC.

The 60 mile route is called “Dylan’s Dash”.

And of course we had to name the 25 mile route “Charlie’s”.

Dylan and Charlie will be supporting us all on the big day as usual. Give them a wave and a smile at the stops.

Walkers are also welcome following the inaugural walking event last year.

Pricing

This year we are providing a drawstring bag decorated with the sponsors logos as well as a 750 ml branded bottle for each rider. Some special gifts will also be hidden in random bags for a lucky few to find.

Ride:

100 miles - £40

60 miles - £40

25 miles - £30

Walk:

Per person - £10

Family - £20

If walkers would like one of our bags, then please request them in the entry form - these are available for an additional £10 each.

Please 

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 walk with friends and family, this event is open to all abilities.

We are 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.

Click the link below to sign up today!

https://bit.ly/r4und2025

On Sunday, 13th July 2025, our annual charity bike ride celebrated its 11th year at Earls Barton Cricket Club (The Grange Sportsfield). It was a brilliant day from start to finish, and we are delighted to share that, together, we raised over £10,000. For a small local charity like ours, this is a fantastic achievement and will go a very long way in supporting children and young people with Down syndrome across Northamptonshire.

How the ride has grown

What began back in 2015 with just 34 riders taking on a single 90-mile route has grown into something really special. This year we offered three different rides — 100 miles (“The McCarrick”), 60 miles (“Dylan’s Dash”), and 25 miles (“Charlie’s”) - so there was something for everyone, whether you were an experienced cyclist or taking on your very first challenge.

For those who preferred walking, “Arnold’s Amble” gave families and supporters the chance to enjoy a gentle 4.5-mile route to Sywell Country Park and back. We were also delighted to welcome riders from BacZac, a local cancer charity, who joined us for the first time.

Thank you

Events like this don’t just happen. They take months of planning and a lot of people giving their time and energy. We want to say a big thank you to:

• The organising committee – Mick, Bob, Peter, Farah, Tom, Leanne, Matt, Duncan, Steve, Stuart, and Tim. Your hard work made everything run smoothly.
• Our photographer, David Brown, for providing his lens to capture the event.
• Our volunteers – from marshalling and water stops to putting up signs, handing out goody bags, and helping with the raffle. We couldn’t do it without you. (A special mention to Midshires Electrical for donating cable ties – a small but vital detail!)
• Our sponsors and supporters – thank you for your generosity and for backing this event year after year.
• And finally, to everyone who took part – whether you cycled, walked, donated, bought a raffle ticket, or just came along to cheer, you made the day what it was!

Where the money goes

The money raised will help fund the services Ups ‘n’ Downs already provides, as well as new ones we are working hard to introduce. These include:

• Speech & Language and Occupational Therapy
• One-to-one swimming lessons to build confidence and water safety
• Sing & Sign sessions to support early communication
• Social events for parents and carers – a chance to share experiences and advice
• Specialist EHCP support from people who know the system inside out
• An educational resource library to use at home
• Training for teachers and teaching assistants so schools can better support our members

Get involved

We’re so proud of what was achieved this year and would love to keep building on it. If you’d like to get involved in future events – whether by volunteering, sponsoring, or taking part, please get in touch with Farah Cutter at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Thank you once again to everyone who supported Riding for Ups ‘n’ Downs 2025. We can’t wait to see what we can do together next year.

We are delighted to announce that Strictly for Ups ‘n’ Downs raised a phenomenal £36,000! What an incredible night!

Huge congratulations to our Strictly winners, Dylan and Megan, who were fantastic. Their dedication, energy, and passion truly shone on the dance floor, making them well-deserved champions!

Thank you to our amazing dancers

A massive thank you to all the dancers who dedicated countless hours to training, fundraising, and delivering stunning performances on the night. Your hard work and commitment made this event such a success, and we can’t thank you enough! 

Gratitude to our team

This spectacular evening would not have been possible without an incredible team of people:

🧡 Wes & Alex Faulkner Clarke – for their patience and professionalism in preparing 11 novice dancers for the most nerve-wracking night of their lives!

🧡 Rosie Wighting MP – for taking time out of her busy schedule to support our charity.

🧡 Billy Lockett – for his support and taking time out of his music schedule to be part of this special event.

🧡 Emma Petit – for her knowledge, wisdom, and honesty at the judging table.

🧡 Nigel Adair – for his suave sophistication and ultimate professionalism as our host.

🧡 Mat Newman of MJN Events – for delivering BBC-standard production that truly elevated the evening.

🧡 Hair by Emily – ensuring not a single hair was out of place!

🧡 Big Bopper Entertainment – for providing the mandatory tunes and capturing fabulous photos (check out their Facebook page for more!)

🧡 Steve Grass – for eight weeks of dedicated practice and a massive fundraising effort.

🧡 Our incredible volunteers – for looking after our audience and dancers so well throughout the event.

🧡 Chris & Karen Smith – for their vision, passion, and dedication in making this entire event a reality!

A HUGE thank you to everyone who supported, danced, donated, and cheered – this night was truly special because of you! Your generosity and enthusiasm continue to make a real difference in the lives of those we support.