LITTLE Lauren Taylor had a whale of a time showing off her cycling skills at the Tour de Yorkshire.
Lauren, six, suffers from Williams Syndrome and riding a bike is something her parents never thought she would be able to do.
The family were invited to join in the Tour de Yorkshire celebrations as stage two departed from the town centre on Friday.
Her mum Katherine, 40, of Springfield Road, Hoyland Common, took to the podium to raise awareness of Lauren’s condition, before Lauren wowed the crowds on a special trike.
She rode through the blue inflatable ‘Y’ arch, towards Shambles Street and back.
She then got to meet the mayor, Coun Jeff Ennis, and the stormtroopers which were celebrating ‘May the 4th’ which is known as Star Wars Day.
Katherine said: “It was such an amazing day, Lauren was excited. She was just fantastic. I got up on the podium and the crowds were so receptive.
“Then, off she went on her little trike and the crowds were clapping and waving. Lauren was waving back and lapping it up.
“Strangers kept coming up to her saying how well she had done and asking for high fives.
“It was so lovely to see. She kept saying ‘again, again’.”
Katherine filmed Lauren and sent it to her friends at Hoyland Common Primary so her school friends could watch in assembly.
The family were then allowed to stay and watch the cyclists set off from outside the town hall.
Lauren and her family hope to raise some awareness of Williams Syndrome.
It affects one in 25,000 children in the UK and causes cardiovascular problems, developmental delay, distinct facial features, hypersensitivity to noise and sleep problems.
Lauren was diagnosed when she was four months old and was shortlisted for a Proud of Barnsley award in 2015.
