Superstar Sebby To Take On Mini Great South Run
Inspire others and share your story via Facebook, Instagram or Twitter and tag it with #BeGreat
Entries for the Great South Run are open at: Greatrun.org/South
A young boy with Down syndrome will take on his first-ever running challenge at the Great South Run to raise awareness about the condition in his community.
Three-year-old Sebby Fyans, from Portsmouth, will take on the Mini Great South Run to support the Portsmouth Down Syndrome Association, which has helped him throughout his life.
He decided to follow in his Mum Rebecca’s and Dad Mike’s footsteps after watching them complete the Great South Run in support of the charity last year.
Little Sebby cheered his mum and dad on from the sidelines before hopping down to join his Dad for the final stretch of the event to cross the finish line with him.
But this year, Sebby, who learned to walk around the time of the event, will take on the 1.5km course of the Mini Great South Run around the Southsea Common, with his mum taking on the Great South 5k beforehand.
He will be joined by a team of classmates from his nursery, who will run alongside him in the event in support of the charity.
Rebecca, who works in the Navy, said: “A lot of Sebby’s therapists only concentrate on what Sebby cannot do instead of how amazing he is and what he can do.
“He was born eight weeks prematurely and we found out through a blood test that he had a 1:2 chance of being born with Down syndrome.
“We declined the amniocentesis test as this carried a risk of miscarriage and we had struggled to conceive Sebby so there was no way in the world we would do anything to harm him.
“Some of the struggles along the way have been noticing that his developmental mile stones like walking and talking are a lot more delayed then that a typically developing child.
“He didn’t learn to walk until he was two and is still learning to talk, but we have learned that every child is different. We had a lot of medical appointments over the years but this has settled down now.
“Sebby started learning to walk around the time of the run last year and he loved it so much that we thought it would be a great for him to be involved this year.”
The Fyans family were supported by the Portsmouth Down Syndrome Association from the moment Sebby was born, that has led to Sebby making friends across the country.
Rebecca is now also a secretary for the charity and helps to meet new families and integrate them into the community.
Rebecca added: “The early days can be a very lonely place and its nice to know that you are not the only person going through things.
“It’s nice to be able to give something back to the community and to help provide and a warm and welcome guidance for new partents with a baby with Down syndrome.
“Sebby loves his nursery and I mentioned to the staff at the nursery that he was running.
“A few of the parents were asked if they wanted to join in and they said it would be a good idea to get a nursery team together, so Sebby could run with some of his friends.
“His friends are also coming from as far as Swindon to run with him so it will be an amazing day.”
The Great South Run, the world’s leading 10-mile, returns to Portsmouth and Southsea on Sunday 23 October where a sea of 25,000 runners will pound the pavements of the fast and flat course.
Every year 2,500 young runners warm up the streets of Southsea at the Junior and Mini Great South Run the day before the event.
The biggest children’s running event in the South will take place on Saturday 22 October, following the Great South 5k, forming a packed festival of sport in the region.
Do you want to create your own gold medal moment? Set yourself a challenge and prove to yourself that you can be great.
Inspire others and share your story via Facebook, Instagram or Twitter and tag it with #BeGreat
To enter the Great South Run, the Great South Run 5k or the Junior and Mini Great South Run, visit: Greatrun.org/South
Related Articles
1/11
Reigning team champions return to Birmingham
As winners of last year’s Business Challenge, Solihull School returns to the start line for the AJ Bell Great Birmingham Run.
Groundbreaking Joint Venture for Future of Athletics in the UK
UK Athletics (UKA), The Great Run Company (GRC) and London Marathon Events (LME) today announced the creation of a new joint venture, Athletic Ventures.
Doting Brothers Set to Race in Memory of Baby Sister
Two loving brothers from Newcastle-Under-Lyme are limbering up to take on the AJ Bell Junior and Mini Great Birmingham Run in memory of their little sister.
Great Birmingham Run scores a hat-trick!
With a month to go before the AJ Bell Great Birmingham Run, the three football clubs are encouraging fans to run for their community foundations.
Arup are up for the challenge on Sunday 5 May
39 runners from engineering giant Arup are taking on the AJ Bell Great Birmingham Run Business Challenge.
Taking it in Their Stride in Memory of a Friend
One team of Great Birmingham Run runners is gearing up for a challenge that goes beyond the miles they'll pound on the pavement.
10 Reasons you should run the AJ Bell Great Birmingham Run
As we countdown to event day on 5 May, we spell out 10 reasons why you should get involved and (if you haven’t already!) sign up.
Emon’s expert tips for training during Ramadan
A reality TV star who ran back to back marathons while fasting during Ramadan is now aiming to inspire his fellow Muslim runners.
Power of Running: Andrew Porter
Andrew Porter, 47, has ran every Great Manchester Run 10k since it started in 2003. Read Andrew's story.
Power of Running: Halee Robinson
After falling out of love with running Halee signed up for the Great Birmingham Run and hasn't looked back. Read Halee's story.
Power of Running: Helen Ryvar
Helen Ryvar is the Guinness World Record Holder for running the most consecutive half marathons, hitting 111 back in 2021. Read Helen's story.
