Maisy mouse and Michael Morpurgo
team Up for Reading
Favourite children's characters and renowned authors
back sponsored reading initiative to support The Down Syndrome Educational Trust
PORTSMOUTH - 6 November 2007 - Favourite children's characters
Maisy, Cyril, Tallulah and friends today teamed up with renowned children's
authors and illustrators Lucy Cousins, Michael Morpurgo and Quentin Blake to launch
the Up for Reading sponsored reading campaign.
Up for Reading encourages young children to engage in reading
activities and supports work to improve early intervention and teaching for children
with Down syndrome everywhere.
Up for Reading is raising funds for The Down Syndrome Educational
Trust - the leading Down syndrome research charity. Based in the UK, the Trust helps
thousands of people with Down syndrome around the world by improving our understanding
of the difficulties they face and informing families and teachers of how best to
support all areas of their development.
"I am delighted to support the Trust's Up for Reading
campaign. It's a great way to encourage young children to read books and also
support a unique charity." said Lucy Cousins.
Michael Morpurgo OBE, a Patron of The Down Syndrome Educational Trust,
said "I’m so pleased to support the Trust’s Up for Reading
campaign. I can't think of a better way to have fun and raise money than by
reading books – nor a better cause to raise it for."
Professor Sue Buckley OBE, Director of Science and Research at
the Trust, said "Up for Reading offers a fun and engaging
way to encourage all young children to participate in reading activities. It also
offers the opportunity to help children with Down syndrome achieve more.
Up for Reading is particularly appropriate as research suggests that
reading skills are often a relative strength for children with Down syndrome. Reading also
helps to improve their spoken language.
It is an excellent example of how research informs better support and progress for
people with Down syndrome."
Up for Reading is also generously supported by National
Book Tokens, Walker Books and Waterstones.com.
The Up for Reading campaign runs until 31 March 2008. Full
details of the campaign can be found on the Up for Reading
web site at http://www.up-for-reading.org/
Further information
The Down Syndrome Educational Trust is the leading Down syndrome
research charity, registered in England and Wales, number 1062823.
http://www.downsed.org/
Lucy Cousins is the best-selling author and illustrator of countless
children's books, including the world famous Maisy series.
http://www.walkerbooks.co.uk/Lucy-Cousins
Michael Morpurgo OBE has written over 100 books - and his books have
won the Children's Book Award in 2000, the Smarties Prize and the Whitbread
Children's Book Award. Michael was the Children's Laureate from 2003 to 2005.
http://www.michaelmorpurgo.org/
Photographs
Contacts
Howard Hurd, Director of Funding and Development
email press@up-for-reading.org |
tel
023 9285 5330 | fax 023 9285 5320