Derbyshire mum hopes sponsored walk will raise awareness about Type 1 diabetes
It's after her daughter was diagnosed with the condition almost three years ago
Last updated 2nd Sep 2023
A mum from Chesterfield is hosting a charity walk on Saturday 9th September, to raise money for Type 1 diabetes charity, JDRF. It's the second time the family will be doing it!
Claire Barons, daughter, Macey, was diagnosed with the condition almost three years ago, when she was only 10-years-old.
Claire said she was shocked: "She never got tired, which is one of the signs. She was still coming home from school, taking the dogs for a walk, going down to the stables with one of her elder sisters, and mucking out and riding. But, one of the key things way, apart from being grumpy a lot, she was drinking a lot (of water)."
Claire explained the moment Macey was rushed to hospital: "We was overwhelmed by nurses, doctors and health care assistances.
Blood taken from here, finger pricking here, we were just surrounded by so many people in the first hour. It was very daunting for me, so I can't imagine what Macey was going through at the time."
Claire hopes her fundraising event will raise awareness about Type 1 diabetes: "As soon as you mention it, people say it's because she eats all the time, she eats the wrong food... No, it is not, it's your pancreas, it's either stopped working altogether or it's sort of on it's way out.
"We're shocked to what we've had to learn over the past two, nearly three years, of what Type 1 one is actually all about. It is very very eye opening. I suppose people who don't know about it, like we were, it is a lot to take in. We are still learning."
The event will be hosted at Poolsbrook Country Park on Saturday 9th September from 10am. It will feature the sponsored walk around the pond, stalls and a raffle.