Greg's on a mission to inspire a missionto inspire (From Barry And District News)

Greg's on a mission to inspire a missionto inspire

A CHARITY set up in Barry will be touring the country to promote its work for young people with learning difficulties.

Patron of the charity Follow Your Dreams, Greg Silvester, has Down's syndrome - and has proved he is a winner.

He was a quadruple World Special Olympic Champion in gymnastics at the age of 19 .

He also picked up two silver medals and a bronze in the event.

Greg has amassed more than 200 medals in his sporting career and is one of the first Down's syndrome people in Britain to become a qualified mainstream gymnastics coach.

Now aged 28, Greg is an inspiration to other young people with learning difficulties. He travels with the charity to shopping centres where the group raise money and awareness.

Greg said: "I want to help other people and get them involved. I love going on the roadshow and meeting people."

In 2000 Greg was given the honour of carrying the torch for Great Britain to the main Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia.

"It was great to hold the Olympic torch," he said.

"Only Daley Thompson and I were chosen to take the torch in 2000, and they gave me it to keep."

Founder of Follow Your Dreams, Martin Harris, said: "Greg can do so many things that I could not do - such as one armed press-ups.

"He can show young people with learning difficulties what can be achieved.

"He will be competing in Glasgow at the Special Olympics this year where he will be swimming."