MANCHESTER UNITED IS SUPPORTING STAND OUT SOCKS FOR WORLD DOWN SYNDROME DAY
Stand Out Socks, Christian (left) and Ross Laing (right).
Manchester United is supporting British sock company, Stand Out, to produce a limited-edition pair of Stand Out Socks, to celebrate World Down Syndrome Day.
The 21st of March is World Down Syndrome Day, this day brings together the world to celebrate and raise awareness of Down Syndrome.
Down Syndrome is caused by an extra copy of chromosome 21. When you look very closely chromosomes are shaped like little socks.
Stand Out Socks was inspired by Ross Laing, a young man with Down Syndrome. Like many people with a learning disability, Ross, 35, had struggled to find work so his brother Christian, 39, wanted to create a company where Ross would not only have a job but be the most integral part of the business.
The exclusive sock design includes twenty pairs of Manchester worker bee’s with an extra golden copy of the 21st bee.
The concept represents the uniqueness of the triplication of chromosome 21 that causes Down Syndrome and also draws attention to the date of the celebration which 21st day of the 3rd month.
The Manchester United / Stand Out Socks collaboration will raise money for the charity Positive about Down Syndrome.
Positive about Down Syndrome provides families and maternity units with their book #NobodyToldMe, the truth about Down syndrome, which is packed full of information and support for expectant parents.
The exclusive pair of limited-edition standout socks will be available in the Manchester United Megastore, Old Trafford from the 11th of March for the lead-up to World Down Syndrome Day.
Christian and Ross, co-founders of Stand Out Socks, say:
“As lifelong Manchester United fans, this is dream come true. This opportunity presents spreading the awareness of Down Syndrome far and wide while celebrating World Down Syndrome Day with the biggest club in world football.
Christian, the co-founder of Stand Out Socks and Ross’ brother, also added:
"In October 2021, Stand out socks was born out of the back of our parent’s industrial unit. We scraped what little money we had together and launched our website www.standoutsocks.co.uk with only three sock designs.
Less than 18 months on, we could have never imagined we'd be in Old Trafford, standing in front of the Sir Alex Ferguson stand, launching an exclusive pair of Stand Out socks with Manchester United to celebrate World Down Syndrome Day.
For Manchester United to believe in who we are, our message of inclusion, and the alternative futures we are trying to create means absolutely everything."
Richard Thornton, Head of Buying, Manchester United:
“The moment Standout Socks approached us we were excited to work with them and help spread their message of positivity and how capable people with Downs Syndrome are in the workplace. The brand has been fantastic to work with, both on a professional and personal level and we are proud to work with them in the run-up to World Down Syndrome Day on the 21st Match 2023.
We will be donating all profits to the fantastic charity: Positive About Down Syndrome.
We are proud to stock Stand Out socks in our Megastore and we know our fans will come out in force to support this worthwhile venture.”
To find out more about Positive About Down Syndrome, please visit
www.positiveaboutdownsyndrome.co.uk
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For further information or to arrange an interview with Stand Out Socks, please contact Christian direct at 07713 144562 (including out-of-hours) or admin@standoutsock.co.uk