A YOUNG girl from Hoyland Common - described by those who know her as a ‘superhero’ - has been doing what she does best and helping raise money for a local children’s hospice in the run-up to Christmas.
Lauren Taylor, 13, was born with a rare genetic condition called Williams syndrome which is characterised by developmental delay, intellectual disability, cardiovascular disease and growth deficiency.
She was born weighing just three pounds and 12 ounces, leaving Lauren’s parents - 46-year-old Katherine and 47-year-old Paul - unsure of what the future would hold for their daughter.
But thanks to the help of the Williams Syndrome Foundation and an ‘amazing community’ of parents, carers and family members going through a similar journey, the pair say they’ve been supported over the last decade.
Despite the many challenges Lauren faces and still continues to overcome, she has become a superhero to her family and the wider community.
Lauren was the winner of this year’s Barnsley Chronicle Young Champions Community Hero Award for raising awareness of her condition and over £5,000 for the charity Williams Syndrome Foundation.
Another aspect of Lauren’s condition is a huge affinity and love for music and song. Lauren loves the festive season as she gets to take part at school in their Makaton Christmas Choir Performance signing and singing festive songs for parents and carers.
It was therefore an exciting weekend for Lauren when she joined her favourite singing group Blu Crew at Meadowhall celebrating the festive season singing songs and raising money for Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice.
Blu Crew are an independent fund-raising singing group with primary ties to the hospice.
Before this year’s Christmas fundraising they have helped to raise over £130,000 for the hospice alone.
Lauren was first introduced to the group in 2016 aged just five years old
Lauren’s mum, Katherine, said: “We had taken Lauren to see Father Christmas at Meadowhall and the group were singing within the shopping centre.
“Lauren was drawn to the music, dancing and singing along.
“Since then we have been to see the group ever year so they have seen Lauren grow into the teenager she is today and she has now become in their words ‘superfan Lauren’.
““Lauren has been singing Christmas songs at home and in the car since October, so she was in her element when she was handed a microphone and invited to sing several songs along with the Blu Crew drawing crowds and applause from the shoppers.
“The group did a lovely rendition of A White Christmas in which they used Makaton signs so Lauren was able to use her signing skills from school to join in.”
