Mayor of London Boris Johnson is supporting the charity KIDS to launch a campaign which will raise vital funds for disabled children and young people

LONDON, UK, June 23, 2015 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Disabled children’s charity KIDS is calling on the general public to design a spacehopper and join in their Big Spacehop Challenge to raise much needed funds.

The Mayor of London Boris Johnson, who helped launch the campaign today, said: ‘"I'm pleased to be supporting this exciting campaign on behalf of KIDS. They provide care and support to thousands of disabled children and young people and are a life line to families across the country including over 3,000 in our capital city. I'm urging everyone to get behind this campaign and get hopping for KIDS.”

Young people across the country are being encouraged to create their own designer spacehoppers through a competition and their entries will be judged by an expert panel. The winning designs will be shown at an exclusive exhibition this summer in Central London, before the Big Spacehop Challenge race takes place in London this September. All entries will also be uploaded to a gallery on the charity’s website and displayed to visitors.

Anyone can register to fundraise for the big race and the event is open to adults and children. The charity hopes the Big Spacehop Challenge race will see over 800 people bouncing on space hoppers in an attempt to break the World Record for the largest space hop race – all to raise money for the charity and raise awareness of the challenges people with disabilities face.

KIDS runs over 100 services across the country to support disabled children, young people and their families including short breaks, portage services, adventure playgrounds and mediation services.

Judy is a 33 year-old single mum with two very active boys. Ben has autism and epilepsy, and Jack has Asperger Syndrome. Because of this it is very difficult to go out with the boys.

Judy felt she really needed some support and was told about KIDS Direct Short Breaks by her local Children’s Information Service. She applied for one of KIDS’ Short Breaks for her son Ben.

Judy commented: “Just this week, I left Ben at home with his worker for the first time. Jack went to a friend's, and I went to the hairdressers! I can't remember the last time I was pampered! I was so confident in KIDS’ support, I felt I could leave Ben and not worry.”

Peter Rowbottom, Director of Fundraising at the charity, said: ‘We are running this event to support disabled children across the country and hope to raise thousands of pounds through this amazing event.’

To find out more and to get involved in the campaign, visit www.kids.org.uk/spacehopper.

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Notes to editors:-
• KIDS care for over 8000 disabled children, young people and their families each year through over 140 services across the country.
• KIDS was founded in 1970 by schoolteacher John Mulcahy, a teacher who became concerned about the development of a disabled child in one of his classes. John wanted to improve communication with this child and sought guidance from the child's mother. This in turn established the KIDS ethos of working in partnership with parents and carers to enable disabled children and young people to develop their skills and abilities and to fulfil their potential, hopes and aspirations.
• Through the Big Spacehop Challenge, the charity hopes to break the current Guinness World Record for the largest space hopper race – which currently stands at 771 participants.

Adam Bradford
KIDS
07950313113
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