All About Us

'Follow Your Dreams' is a Charity that raises funds and awareness to support youngsters with learning disabilities to 'Follow Their Dreams', helping them to explore and develop their potential through Music, Art, Sport and Drama.

The Charity has been established for over ten years. It was originally set-up after a chance meeting when the Charities Founder Martin Harris met Greg Silvester at a paper shredding factory in Staffordshire. Martin was amazed by Greg’s athletic achievements and the stories behind meeting the famous people that inspired him on his journey to become a World Champion Special Olympic Gymnast at the 1995 Special Olympic World Games in Connecticut. Martin’s background had always been in sales and marketing, working with shopping centres and exhibition halls around Britain. As Greg demonstrated a few of his moves, which showed incredible skill and balance, Martin conceived the idea to stage a few awareness events around the country, and with permission from Greg’s family and the Charity that he was working for, the first Road Show was launched. The first few events attracted huge crowds and media attention, which delighted the shopping centres and from then on a comprehensive Road Show was launched which still tours today, travelling all over the UK raising awareness and funds for people with learning disabilities.

The next few years were to see Greg win even more medals, and he now has well over 200, many of which are “Gold”, and he has recently taken up swimming and table tennis. In 2000 Greg was asked to carry the Olympic Torch for Britain at the Sidney World Games, his profile was increased nationwide with the help of the Road Show. The Charity were very sorry to see him leave recently when he decided to settle down and concentrate on his coaching and teaching skills nearer to home, although he still has a very active role within the Charity as a Patron, and likes to pop along whenever we are in his area.

Since the Charity has started it has concentrated its efforts into getting out in front of people in major shopping centres throughout the UK and working with local Special Needs Schools and Special Needs Groups on its journey. Youngsters with learning disabilities have enjoyed participating in the changing themes of the Road Show that has involved the Fundraising Team dressing up as Cowboys, Indians, Pirates, Cartoon, James Bond and Harry Potter Characters and many, many more.....

The youngsters with learning disabilities who attend the Road Shows really enjoy participating in a whole range of activities that support them in a fun way to explore and develop their potential. This allows them to enjoy meeting positive role models and heroes who have excelled in music, art, sport and drama. They participate in quizzes, talent shows, produce art and crafts etc, all of which helps to raise self esteem and confidence for all the little stars that come along and join in. Although each event is quite costly and the Charity doesn’t receive any Government or lottery funding, it still manages to raise a steady profit which funds youngsters with learning disabilities to explore and develop their potential in music, art, sport and drama.

The Charity is also increasing its partnership working and membership base which will play a big part in making dreams come true and welcomes anyone to join in and to support us in our fundraising efforts.

Our Patrons & Staff

Greg Sylvester

At a very young age, Greg proved to his family and friends that he had an aptitude and determination towards sport, surprising everyone by becoming a World Champion and mentor to thousands of youngsters Nationwide. 

In 1991, at the age of 19, Greg was spotted by Special Olympic Coach, Alistair West, and with his help, competed successfully in the World Special Olympic Games in America, winning four Gold, two Silver and Bronze medals. Not content with winning over 200 Medals, Greg also became one of the first youngsters in Britain with Down’s syndrome to become a qualified mainstream gymnastic coach. 

In 2000, Greg’s career soared when he carried the torch for Great Britain at the main Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia in front of the worlds’ press, creating national headlines back home. The torch was then presented to Greg. He has appeared on television many times and his story has featured in dozens of newspapers and magazine articles.

Greg’s ambition is to eventually write a book and help as many youngsters as possible achieve their dreams.

Cheryl Baker

A real life Eastender, Cheryl was born in Bethnal Green on 8th March 1954,  Her bubbly personality was evident even in the early days of “Bucks Fizz” when they won the Eurovision Song Contest in Dublin in 1981. They went on to gain world-wide recognition with a string of hit records including three number ones, “Land of Make Believe”, “My camera Never Lies” and of course “Making Your Mind Up” and throughout this period, it was evident that Cheryl would develop a solo career one day. In 1984 she was asked to present the children’s television show, “How Dare You”, which set the ball rolling for her as a TV presenter.  Apart from children’s favourites such as Record Breakers and Eggs ‘n’ Baker, she presented daytime current affairs shows, prime-time Saturday evening shows and even dog agility shows!   During the 90’s, Cheryl was on TV 6 days a week!  All this, and she was still singing with Bucks Fizz.  So, at the end of 1993, Cheryl stepped down from Bucks Fizz after twelve years to concentrate on her solo career.

She is hugely popular with the general public, who consider her ‘the girl next door’.  Whenever she makes an appearance either in the Media or at events, her charm and personality has everyone, young and old, eating from her hand.  People relate to Cheryl – she is ‘one of them’.  Cheryl is far from perfect and people love her for it. Cheryl reunited with Mike Nolan and Jay Aston, the three work together as “The Original Bucks Fizz”.  They perform at major festivals throughout the UK and are regulars on the “Here & Now” tours.  And yes – they still rip their skirts off!

In her spare time Cheryl supports a range of charitable causes and is a great Patron of the Follow Your Dreams Charity.

Sonya Pederson

Sonya has represented her country in the Special Olympics and really enjoys sport. She has won 3 bronze medals for the bench and 3 bronze for the floor in gymnastics.

Her speciality sport is Boccia and over the past three years she has won Special Olympics Silver in the singles in 2005

She also enjoys playing New Age Kurling, watching rugby and the soaps.

Her ambition is not to have to use the wheelchair.

Our Trustees 

Our Trustees can be contacted at:

Our Head Office: 36a Edwards House, Talbot Road, Talbot Green, Pontyclun, South Wales. CF72 8AF.
By telephone on: 01443 230184
Via our website: www.followyourdreams.org.uk

The Follow Your Dreams Team are:

Sue Sugarman - Chief Executive Officer

Rachel Williams - Finance Manager

John Hope - Business Development Manager

Mike Williams - Project Manager

Vicky George - Dream Co-Ordinator

Debbie Morris - Dream Co-Ordinator

Sharon Comin - PA / Receptionist

Heather Eason - Administrator

National Funraising Team

Susan Brookes - Fundraising Executive Officer

Liz Whitaker - PA to FEO - Events Co-Ordinator

Daniel Boddy - Area Fundraising Manager (Midlands & North)

Sue Mackey - Area Fundraising Manager (Kent & Essex)

Neil Flood - Area Fundraising Manager (Dorset & Hampshire)

Tom Pugh - Area Fundraising Manager (Bristol & West)