Sven-Goran Eriksson may be focussing intensely on England’s imminent World Cup campaign but the England Head Coach still managed to lend his support for the Down’s Syndrome Association’s Awareness Week, which takes place from Monday 5 June to Sunday 11 June 2006.

The Down's Syndrome Association (DSA) champions the rights of people with Down's syndrome to live their lives to the full. The DSA is a national charity dedicated to covering all aspects of living successfully with Down's syndrome from before birth to beyond.

The DSA provides information, advice and support to people with Down's syndrome, their families and all those with a professional interest.

Every year the Down’s Syndrome Association holds a week-long campaign to raise awareness for the 60,000 people in the United Kingdom who have the genetic condition.

The awareness week focuses on a different aspect of life with Down's syndrome each year. This year the focus is on the point of "disclosure".

This is the point of diagnosis. At the beginning of the year the DSA carried out extensive research to find how people receive the news that their baby has Down's syndrome. They want to ensure that every single parent is told correctly and given the right information.

Sven-Goran Eriksson said: “The importance of the Down’s Syndrome Association’s work cannot be underestimated. The Awareness Week is a great way of informing the general public about the condition, which I hope will lead to a greater understanding.

“I’d like to wish the Down’s Syndrome Association every success with their work.”

Carol Boys, Chief Executive of the Association, said: “We are delighted to have the support of the England Head Coach for our campaign and we wish him and his squad every success in the World Cup.”

For further information about Down’s Syndrome Awareness Week and the Down’s Syndrome Association please visit www.downs-syndrome.org.uk or call 0845 230 0372 to request a Fundraising/Awareness Pack.