The eyes have it for charity

The eyes have it for charity

26 September 2012

AN ASSISTANT teacher from Annacloy has come up with an eye-catching way to raise money for the Down Syndrome Association.

Nicki Bogues is aiming to raise £4,000 for the association, which has helped her family access the best services available to her 18 year-old brother Ryan who has Down Syndrome.

Nicki is raising the money to take part in a sponsored trek through the Grand Canyon in May.

As part of her fundraising effort, she is inviting people to purchase a pair of plastic eyeballs and to use them in an inventive way for a photograph.

She will judge the photographs and the winning entrant will receive an iPod in return for their inventiveness.

They eye balls are £2 and are available from Mange Tout Deli in Downpatrick or from the front desk at Blackwater Integrated College.

Entries can be made via facebook at www.facebook.com/goinggoogly

Nicki has already raised money for the Down Syndrome Association through a bag pack, quiz and car boot sale.

She said she was hopeful of reaching her £4,000 target and delighted she was able to give something back to a charity that had been helpful to her own family.

“Ryan went through mainstream school and that was helped by the Down Syndrome Association,” she said.

“They are always exploring new ways of teaching and very much promote the idea that children and adults with Down Syndrome can achieve a lot.

“I am hoping to train as a special needs teacher and that is connected to my experience as having Ryan as a brother and the way the Down Syndrome Association helped guide our family.

“When people meet Ryan they are often very surprised at what he can do. He can socialise with other 18 year-olds, his speech is very good and he has a good independence.

“He has his own sense of humour. He is one of the reasons I would like to go into special needs teaching.”