Winner

Medical Detection Dogs, Assistance Dog Team

This isn’t one person, but a team that deserves an award as its work really is life-changing. Each team member does amazing things day after day for people living with diabetes and their families. The team provide, train and support medical alert assistance dogs for people with hypoglycaemia unawareness. It hand selects each dog, trains them to the specific needs of each person and continues to support them indefinitely. Nothing is too difficult for them to consider and overcome. The team helps lessen the fear people with hypoglycaemia have and allows many of them to fulfil normal lives that they couldn’t before.

Highly commended

Beth Harris

Beth Harris is four years old. She was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of two. To mark Diabetes Week 2015, Beth and her family created a YouTube video (Beth’s Story), which has had more than 1,100 views showing what life is like for a young child affected by the condition. Alongside her parents, friends and family, Beth has also raised more than £2,300 for Diabetes UK by taking part in the Colour Me Rad 5k in Glasgow on June 28.

For someone so young, Beth has shown incredible strength in adapting to her condition and is very proud of her pink insulin pump. She has given a talk to other children, teachers and parents, and despite her young age, can talk about living with diabetes in a positive and meaningful way.

Commended

Kerry Berry

Kerry is one of the parents whose daughter and sibling comes to the highs and lows children’s choir in Leicester. Kerry has been a huge help and support to other parents and children with diabetes. She has done a considerable amount of fundraising for Diabetes UK and still continues to do more. Kerry is an inspiration and puts so many other people’s needs in front of her own. Kerry has also become our chair person for choir and is helping to set up day camps and activities (she provides all materials) for the children with diabetes and their families. Kerry has also designed and made pump belts for our patients on insulin pumps for free.

Commended

Danni Quinn

Danni runs the T1 rights at school Facebook page which has nearly 2,000 members. She takes her time to reply to everyone on there, and offers help and advice through difficult times during school, according to the law. She has helped win disability discrimination tribunals, advised on SENs and Education Health and Care Plans. She has given her personal time to guide individuals through the process so that children can access their education like their peers. She has helped children access overnight school trips and 100% attendance awards and so much more. Danni is well-respected in the paediatric T1 community and has a heart of gold.