Devoted dad rides 100 miles for Down’s Syndrome charity that supports his baby boy

A devoted father from Featherstone rode 100 miles to raise money for a charity that helps to support his son's condition.
A devoted father from Featherstone rode 100 miles to raise money for a charity that helps to support his son's conditionA devoted father from Featherstone rode 100 miles to raise money for a charity that helps to support his son's condition
A devoted father from Featherstone rode 100 miles to raise money for a charity that helps to support his son's condition

On December 16 2019, Chris Sharp and his wife, Georgie, became first time parents when their son, Reggie, was born.

Reggie was due to be born on Christmas Day, however Georgie experienced preeclampsia in the weeks leading up to her due date, so Reggie had to be birthed via cesarean section a few days premature.

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In the operating theatre, Chris and Georgie recall Christmas songs casually playing on the hospital’s radio and it was when Johnny Mathis’ ‘When a Child is Born’ began to play, they heard the cries of their newly born son for the first time.

Baby Reggie is "smiley all the time and he’s hitting all of his targets.”Baby Reggie is "smiley all the time and he’s hitting all of his targets.”
Baby Reggie is "smiley all the time and he’s hitting all of his targets.”

Chris said: “We were absolutely over the moon when Reggie was born, we’d been trying for a while before he came along.

“After he was born I looked at him and had a suspicion he could be Down’s Syndrome, and this was confirmed shortly afterwards when his blood test results came back.

“We were in shock for the first few minutes, but we came to terms with it straight away, he was and still is our happy little boy.

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“We brought him home and he’s been a really good baby since then, he’s so smiley all the time and he’s hitting all of his targets.”

Chris Sharp and his wife, Georgie, became first time parents when their son, Reggie, was bornChris Sharp and his wife, Georgie, became first time parents when their son, Reggie, was born
Chris Sharp and his wife, Georgie, became first time parents when their son, Reggie, was born

The couple received immediate support from the hospital and Down’s Syndrome Association, a charity who support parents as well as those with the condition to live full and rewarding lives.

Taken back by the help and support the charity had to offer, Chris decided he wanted to do something to help raise funds for them.

As Chris is a fitness fanatic, partaking in various triathlons and local running clubs, he settled on signing up for ‘Prudential RideLondon’ - a 100mile sponsored bike ride, from London to Surrey, in which riders raise funds to support a charity of their choice.

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Chris’ friend, Richard Cooper, agreed to sign up too and ride for DSA in Reggie’s name.

Chris and Richard set out on their new route, accompanied by another friend, Donna BaileyChris and Richard set out on their new route, accompanied by another friend, Donna Bailey
Chris and Richard set out on their new route, accompanied by another friend, Donna Bailey

Chris said: “I think me and Richard decided we’d take part in the Prudential Ride around February time, we went through with registering and got the backing from DSA.

“We started fundraising and everything was going well, until the Covid situation put a halt to things.

“Through lockdown it was really difficult, me and Richard were unable to train together and then we got word that the Prudential Ride was to be cancelled.

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“We were so determined to complete the ride, we’d raised all this money and we were ready to get going and raise more - so we decided, instead of going to London, we’d still ride the 100miles on the day locally instead.”

The trio rode across different parts of YorkshireThe trio rode across different parts of Yorkshire
The trio rode across different parts of Yorkshire

With little training, the pair were still ready to take on the challenge.

So on Saturday, August 15, Chris and Richard set out on their new route around Yorkshire, accompanied by another friend, Donna Bailey.

The route started from Chris’ house in Featherstone, through to Pontefract and Darrington towards Snaith and through to Goole, toward the river Ouse and over the Humber Bridge, towards Ulrome near Bridlington.

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Together, the trio cycled their 100 mile target within the space of 11 hours and raised a total of £2,521.

Chris said: “We’re still coming off the buzz, we’re absolutely over the moon with how the day went, considering how little training we’d all done.

“It was such an amazing day, spirits were high from beginning to end and the fact that we got to raise over £2,500 is brilliant.

The trio at one of their pit stopsThe trio at one of their pit stops
The trio at one of their pit stops

“I’d also like to thank six other riders who came and joined us riding up towards Goole, they really gave us that motivation we needed for the journey ahead - so a special mention to Melanie Owen, Tim Owen, Emily Owen, Carrie Simmonds, Ruth Walker and Richard Bailey.

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“They made sure sure we didn't go too fast at the beginning, it’s thanks to them that we were able to get to the finish line to see my wife, Reggie and our friends holding up the finish line banner and welcoming us with balloons.”

To donate to Chris' cause, see the Team Reggie justgiving page