We were delighted to hear from Sam’s mum Leslye, who wanted to share with us some of the amazing experiences and challenges that Sam has taken on since his 30th birthday, as part of a marathon fundraising effort.
When life started to get back to some kind of normality last year, we decided as a family we would like to do some fundraising for two charities that were close to our hearts. We came up with the idea of Sam’s 21 Challenges.
S – Sporting
A – Adventurous
M – Motivational
We began looking for personal challenges for Sam and timed it to begin on Sam’s 30th birthday (also two days from my husband’s 60th). Friends and family paid for some of the amazing experiences Sam has done, and the others we have sorted ourselves with help from some incredible people we already know, and new friends we have gathered along the way.
Sam with the Swindon Town 1st Team Squad
The main aim was to raise £2,100 to be split between two charities: the Uplands Enterprise Trust and Swindon Down’s syndrome Group.
Sam wanted to change the preconceived conceptions that a lot of people have concerning Down’s syndrome. We have always encouraged Sam to try everything he wanted to try, just as we did all our other children.
Sam has risen to all his challenges, enjoying some more than others and the kindness and understanding we have been shown has brought me to tears at times.
Sam has now completed all 21 of his challenges, with a wide range of different activities successfully completed.
- Fast speed boat up the Thames in London
- Running various fundraising stalls
- Spending an afternoon with snakes including a Royal Python and Boa Constrictor
- Track Day at Castle Coombe completing 21 laps in 3 high powered racing cars
- Riding the fastest sit-down zip wire in the world
- Jet Skiing around Poole
- Driving a steam train
- Surfing
- Flying lesson (his poor dad nearly fainted when the controls were handed over to Sam)
- Conducting a full brass band to a piece of music (Marston) specially written for him
- Completing 21 rides at Thorpe Park in 7 hours
- Completing a 5km Santa run to raise money for local Rotary Club (dressed as naughty elf)
- Penguin feeding (Sam’s nickname is Penguin Bum)
- Co-piloting a helicopter
- Falconry
- Working as an ASDA colleague for the day
- Three Days of Volunteering at a local Pantomime
- Visiting all 20 Premier League Football Grounds and Wembley in Three Days
- Climbing the 02
- Three 1-minute rounds of Boxing
- Playing football with the Swindon Town 1st Team
Sam has at present raised well over £5000 and hopefully changed the perceptions of many, many people and shown people around the world how amazing our children can be.
You can still donate on Sam’s JustGiving page here.