Ref. 30756-27LITTLE Josiah Kay has every reason to feel proud of his dad Simon.

The four-year-old, who has Down's Syndrome, was due to wave his dad and their friends on their way last night as they left Swindon to scale three of Britain's highest peaks within 24 hours.

The party of 12 hope that by breakfast time tomorrow they will have climbed Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon and raised a hefty sum in sponsorship cash for Swindon Down's Syndrome Group.

The money will pay for two part-time speech and language therapists to help Down's youngsters develop their ability to communicate.

"Our son is going great guns," said Simon. He and his wife Rachel live with Josiah and their five-year-old daughter Alice in Kennet Avenue, Greenmeadow.

"It's our job to help him develop his own potential, and speech and language development is an important part of that."

Unfortunately, he added, they are not covered adequately by the care system.

"Josiah sees a speech and language therapist only once every month or two."

Yet ideally he and other Down's children should have the therapy every week.

Simon and Rachel had no idea before Josiah's birth that their baby son had Down's Syndrome.

"Rachel suspected something was wrong but we did not know what it was. It came to light when he was being examined for something else.

"It was a shock," he admitted. "You realise you can't change it.

"But as practising Christians Rachel and I have faith in God and we got on with it."

He believes the Three Peaks challenge will help to raise the profile of children with Down's Syndrome.

"For one thing it has brought family and friends together," he said.

His brother Fraser is among the 12 doing the challenge and his father David is driving one of three vehicles.

"We would like to thank Fish Brothers for lending us a VW Caravelle," said Simon. "It's a big contribution."

People who would like to sponsor the group can telephone 01793 341531.

Shirley Mathias