A party of disadvantaged and Downs Syndrome youngsters headed off to Norfolk from Tenerife at the beginning of July for a week’s holiday with a difference – it was the first time in their lives that they had seen rivers and trains.
The youngsters, aged from nine to 16, and their parents and carers, stayed in Great Yarmouth for a summer camp and Club La Costa’s Smile Foundation helped to finance the trip.
The trip was organised by the Tenerife Sur branch of the Lions, and three members, Colin Slade and Mike and Margaret Mitchell, accompanied the 27 strong group.
A British mum and her two youngsters were part of the group but the others were all Spanish. During the trip they visited the Africa Alive experience, the Norfolk Broads, and travelled on the Yarmouth to Lowestoft train.
Party leader Colin Slade said:” There are no rivers on Tenerife so none of the Spanish youngsters had seen a boat on a river before, and there are no trains either so both those trips were especially exciting for them. We raise the money for our trips through our charity shops on the island and we were delighted to receive a 6000 euro donation towards the cost from The Smile Foundation run by Club La Costa.
“Our president Norman Goodall approached the company. Club La Costa has been brilliant, and it makes a real difference to us.”
The Tenerife Sur Lions have an active exchange programme involving young people from Tenerife and the UK.
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