THREE borough families joined in with a campaign to raise awareness of down syndrome in time for Father's Day on Sunday.

Charitable organisation Wouldn't Change a Thing was launched in March 2018 by the carpool karaoke video 50 Mums 50 Kids 1 Extra Chromosome, which went viral and attracted more than 380 million views.

Looking to get in on the action, a group of dads from across the country decided to get together to produce a video to show that children with down syndrome are loved and accepted by them, like their mums.

They teamed up with Paramount Pictures, which managed to book them into Pinewood Studios to film the project.

The video shows dads sat next to their children in glamorous cars using makaton sign language with Take That's Shine playing as the soundtrack.

James Gregory and his daughter, Emily, five, and Ian and Bethany Parr, six, who all live in Leigh, star in the video.

Oscar Rimmer, seven, and his dad Brynn, who are from Pemberton, play their parts as well.

To watch the video click here.

Leigh Journal:

Oscar and his dad Brynn

Project leader of “Dads Don’t Count Chromosomes”, Jamie McCallum, said: "We knew we’d never be able to match the mums’ ability to tug on the heart strings of the world so we went for some good-humoured competition instead.

"Dads who have children with additional needs are extremely under-represented and under-supported in this world and play a huge part in advocating for our children.

"We wanted to take the opportunity to shout from the rooftops how much our children are loved and welcome in our lives and how, just like the mums, we wouldn’t change a thing.”

Wouldn’t Change a Thing's aim is “to create a world where negative, outdated perceptions of down syndrome become a thing of the past.”

The organisation has strengthened having launched a further four viral campaigns, each with national media exposure and celebrity endorsement from the likes of music superstar Michael Bublé.

It is working with schools, hospitals, universities and other agencies such as the World Health Organisation to improve international human rights standards for those with learning disabilities.