THERE WERE smiles all round when Solihull Down Syndrome Support Group was handed a donation from former Doctors actress Elizabeth Bower.
The £1,000 cheque was presented to commemorate the naming of Churchill Retirement Living’s Bower Lodge development in Shirley to Elizabeth’s chosen charity which supports families and carers with children and young people with Down Syndrome.
The event took place at the Lodge and children from the charity attended with their parents to for an afternoon of nibbles and chatter with Elizabeth, her family, and the Churchill team
Tracy Hunt from Solihull Down Syndrome Support Group (SDSS), said: “Our Trustees and families really enjoyed it, there was a lovely welcoming and our kids felt right at home.
“It is a beautiful opportunity to make lifelong bonds with our community and promote positivity for our children and adults with Down Syndrome.
“We were overwhelmed with the total on the cheque and thank Elizabeth Bower for her support and Churchill for their generosity.
“SDSSG supports 66 families within Solihull and the surrounding areas, we solely rely on grants and donations to fund our activities which are accessed by our very broad age range of members, our youngest being six months old and our oldest member who is 30 years old.
“As a charity, our aim is to create a fun support organization for parents and carers, siblings, and their extended family networks in a fully inclusive environment.”
Elizabeth said: “It’s been an absolute privilege to be associated with Bower Lodge and Churchill. Whenever the spotlight is thrown on you unexpectedly, it’s nice to redirect it to something that stands for a good cause.
“SDSS is great charity in the local area that provides a much-needed platform for emotional and practical support for families, carers, and children, and it’s wonderful Churchill has been able to support them with this substantial donation.”
Having previously attended a local school and having personal links to the area, Churchill found it fitting to name the new Lodge after her.
Elizabeth is best known for her role in the Doctors TV series, and she has been working on Sir Lenny Henry’s new series, Three Little Birds, which is due to be broadcasted later this year.
Bernadette Hennelly, regional marketing manager at Churchill Retirement Living Midlands, said: “It was a truly heart-warming afternoon to meet the children and parents from the charity, and to see how much this donation means to them.
“From creating play groups and activities for children, to educational support for their families and carers, SDSS is an integral part of our local community, and it is a privilege for us to support them.”
