Ravenfire
07-11-2005, 07:58 PM
CHARITY CALENDAR SHOWS BABIES WITH DOWN SYNDROME NEED LOVE AND CARE TOO
Mums of babies with Down Syndrome have joined together to produce a heart warming charity calendar that challenges people’s misconceptions about the condition.
The massive undertaking has involved mums of babies with Down Syndrome from across the UK and a multitude of professionals who have given free services in order to see the project get off the ground.
Just Babies was the idea of Lynn Livingstone, mother of Miss December, Kayley.
She first had the idea while her four-month-old daughter was in hospital recovering from open heart surgery.
Lynn, from Perth in Scotland, said: “I was having a conversation with another mum and joked I had met so many other parents of babies with Down Syndrome we could almost do a calendar. We giggled and said "how cute" and I didn’t really intend taking the idea forward.
“Then I came to realise that it was not so daft. I contacted other mums and within 12 hours I had a photographer, graphic designer and six of the babies. I could hardly believe it.â€
The name Just Babies was chosen to show that youngsters with Down Syndrome have the same needs as any baby. The calendar is filled with beautiful contemporary black and white images captured by photographer Peter Evans, whose two-year-old daughter Hayley also has Down Syndrome.
Lynn said: “When Kayley was born I remember a lovely nurse sitting with me and saying, ‘remember that first and foremost she is just a baby like any other, who needs love, care and attention’.
“That is where the idea came for the title of the calendar - I want people to see just that, as quite often people fail to see beyond the label and realise that each of these beautiful children is an individual.
“Raising awareness is the most important thing for me and any money that can be raised for our charities will be fantastic as they all play such an important part in each our children’s lives.â€
The charities that will benefit are The Down Syndrome Educational Trust, Down’s Syndrome Scotland and the Down’s Syndrome Research Foundation (UK).
Lynn added: “The idea has become reality in a matter of months, and sometimes I can't believe that we are here already. It could not have happened without the help of some very talented and enthusiastic people. Peter the photographer is
amazing and has travelled all over the country to take photographs for us
and Ruth, the graphic designer, has put so much into designing the calendar for me.â€
The calendar costs £11 including postage and packing and can be purchased from http://www.justbabies.org.uk
For further information visit: http://www.justbabies.org.uk or e-mail: enquiries@justbabies.org.uk
Mums of babies with Down Syndrome have joined together to produce a heart warming charity calendar that challenges people’s misconceptions about the condition.
The massive undertaking has involved mums of babies with Down Syndrome from across the UK and a multitude of professionals who have given free services in order to see the project get off the ground.
Just Babies was the idea of Lynn Livingstone, mother of Miss December, Kayley.
She first had the idea while her four-month-old daughter was in hospital recovering from open heart surgery.
Lynn, from Perth in Scotland, said: “I was having a conversation with another mum and joked I had met so many other parents of babies with Down Syndrome we could almost do a calendar. We giggled and said "how cute" and I didn’t really intend taking the idea forward.
“Then I came to realise that it was not so daft. I contacted other mums and within 12 hours I had a photographer, graphic designer and six of the babies. I could hardly believe it.â€
The name Just Babies was chosen to show that youngsters with Down Syndrome have the same needs as any baby. The calendar is filled with beautiful contemporary black and white images captured by photographer Peter Evans, whose two-year-old daughter Hayley also has Down Syndrome.
Lynn said: “When Kayley was born I remember a lovely nurse sitting with me and saying, ‘remember that first and foremost she is just a baby like any other, who needs love, care and attention’.
“That is where the idea came for the title of the calendar - I want people to see just that, as quite often people fail to see beyond the label and realise that each of these beautiful children is an individual.
“Raising awareness is the most important thing for me and any money that can be raised for our charities will be fantastic as they all play such an important part in each our children’s lives.â€
The charities that will benefit are The Down Syndrome Educational Trust, Down’s Syndrome Scotland and the Down’s Syndrome Research Foundation (UK).
Lynn added: “The idea has become reality in a matter of months, and sometimes I can't believe that we are here already. It could not have happened without the help of some very talented and enthusiastic people. Peter the photographer is
amazing and has travelled all over the country to take photographs for us
and Ruth, the graphic designer, has put so much into designing the calendar for me.â€
The calendar costs £11 including postage and packing and can be purchased from http://www.justbabies.org.uk
For further information visit: http://www.justbabies.org.uk or e-mail: enquiries@justbabies.org.uk