Boy with Down syndrome completes epic bike ride for charity

by Tyson Shine from Yahoo News:

A 12-year-old boy with Down syndrome has helped raised thousands of dollars for the Special Olympics riding from Tasmania's east coast to Hobart.

Sporting a flat tyre, Lucah Mathiassen and his mother Kristin were part of a team of four who completed the journey with a warm welcome in the capital.


The pair and a support crew took four days to ride the 280 kilometres from St Helens in the north-east.


"[We had] 35-kilometre winds straight in the face along the east coast, that was definitely a challenge," Ms Mathiassen said.


The ride raised more than $5,000 for the Special Olympics which offers an opportunity for people with a disability to try competitive sport.


"Lucah will be involved at some point, when he's a little bit older," Ms Mathiassen said.


"Here is a single mum with her son with Down Syndrome ... wanting to do a ride for her son to be able to compete in Special Olympics, but also raising funds for us as well," Special Olympics Tasmania manager Bernadette Black said.

What a Welcome! Quantas airline staff treat Glee's Lauren Potter to a surprise serenade in the style of the show as she touches down in Australia

By Jenna Good from Daily Mail Australia:

Glee fans, or ‘Gleeks’ as they are fondly known, are used to being entertained by the singing and dancing numbers on the famous show - but on Wednesday the tables were turned on one of the series favourite actresses.

Lauren Potter, 24, who plays Becky Jackson the Cheerios co-captain, landed Down Under on her Qantas flight, she was treated to a very special performance by singers in Qantas air steward outfits.

The pint-sized star, who is currently in Australia to support and co-host e.motion21's Annual Dance Spectacular in Camberwell on Sunday, looked overwhelmed, happy and touched by the surprise serenade.

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Shocked: Glee star Lauren Potter couldn't believe her eyes as two Qantas stewards sung Vanessa Amorosi's hit song, Absolutely Everybody as they welcomed her to Australia on Wednesday

Overwhelmed: It is usually Lauren who is doing the entertaining but on this occasion she enjoyed being performed for by singers in Qantas uniforms

Glee's Lauren Potter given Aussie welcome on Qantas flight

Australia may help surrogate mom left with baby with Down syndrome

by Leonard Greene from The New York Post:
The Australian government said Sunday it wants to help an impoverished surrogate mom who was left with a Down-syndrome son after the couple who paid her to have their children fled with his healthy twin sister.
Pattaramon Chanbua, 21, gave birth to twins despite the couple’s plea to end the pregnancy over concerns about the boy’s health. He was also born with heart problems diagnosed during the pregnancy.
Chanbua, a food vendor, has been since unable to afford medical bills for the 6-month-old boy.
“I guess it illustrates some of the pitfalls involved in this particular business,” said Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott. “I hate to think that a child could be abandoned like that.”
Abbott said it might be possible for the country to provide financial support for the boy and his mother.

Thai surrogate mom forgives couple who left behind twin with Down syndrome

by the Associated Press from Fox News:
A Thai surrogate mother said Sunday that she was not angry with the Australian biological parents who left behind a baby boy born with Down syndrome, and hoped that the family would take care of the boy's twin sister they took with them.
Pattaramon Chanbua, a 21-year-old food vendor in Thailand's seaside town of Sri Racha, has had to take a break from her job to take care of her 7-month-old surrogate baby, named "Gammy," who also has a congenital heart condition. The boy, with blond hair and dark brown eyes, is now being treated in a hospital for infection in his lungs.

Pattaramon said she met the Australian couple once when the babies were born and knew only that they lived in Western Australia state.

"I've never felt angry at them or hated them. I'm always willing to forgive them," Pattaramon told The Associated Press. "I want to see that they love the baby girl as much as my family loves Gammy. I want her to be well taken care of."

Twitter attack on Collingwood player Clinton Young's brother

by David Hurley from The Herald Sun:
COLLINGWOOD star Clinton Young has been the victim of a Twitter attack by a man who made shocking comments about his brother, who has Down syndrome.
Following the Pies victory over Carlton on Friday night, Young tweeted his thanks to supporters and referred to
his brother, who was in the circle singing the club song with the players after the win.
Young tweeted: "Great win by the boys tonight! Thanks for all the messages, Lachie loved the night too! Fair to say I needed the run, can't wait for next wk."
A Twitter user replied: "Good to see your brother fitting in but I guess he would already lots of spastics at the pies."
Catherine McAlpine, chief executive officer of Down Syndrome Australia, said: "It is really disappointing that some people still think it is acceptable that people with disabilities are fair game when it comes to ridicule and abuse like this."

Young, 27, and Collingwood Football Club did not wish to comment on the incident.