Diabetes Week
June 10th-15th 2007
Diabetes Week is a nationally-run event organised by Diabetes UK to highlight every aspect that affects people living with diabetes. The campaign this year was supported by the tagline 'Make Change' and thus encouraging people to make a little bit of difference - for the better, obviously! - to their lives.
On Friday 8th June, as a pre-cursor to Diabetes Week, Alex and Sue-Lin spoke to Joe Talbot on BBC Southern Counties Radio about the proposed cuts to specialist care services and how this will affect everyone living with diabetes. You can listen to the short five-minute segment by downloading the following audio file:
Listen to the Cuts in Specialist Services interview
(playable with Windows Media Player)
Saturday 9th June saw the Brighton Group descend upon the Diabetic Jam, an annual musical spectacular at The Telscombe Tavern, in Telscombe Cliffs. Even though the outdoor marquee was unavailable - largely due to unpredictable weather! - the event went off with a bang as people came from far and wide to watch an array of talented musicians and comedians donate their time to a very good cause.
The Diabetic Jam was held at The Telscombe Tavern
Local bands Mickey Hart and Heart Breakers and The Fire Llamas and singer-songwriter Joanne Arrowsmith among others performed to onlookers and helped raise around £1000 for the Diabetes Unit at The Royal Alexandra Children's Hospital. Thanks to Juliette for organising the event and to everyone who volunteered their time to make the evening great fun for all.
Revellers at The Diabetic Jam
Customers of Barclays Bank in North Street, Brighton, inquisitively questioned the staff as to why they weren't in uniform on Monday 11th June. The reason? Denim for Diabetes Day, of course. Members of staff in the massive building donated what they could afford in order to wear their own clothes for a day and don their best photo-faces for a picture opportunity to boot. The day raised in excess of £70, which will be donated to diabetes research through Diabetes UK.
The Barclays Denim for Diabetes Day
The old grey matter was the subject of some fierce testing on Tuesday 12th June, as several people from the group took part in a pub quiz at The Hanover Pub in Brighton. Every person taking part donated 50p to Diabetes UK in order to take part, with the proceeds once again going to Diabetes UK. We racked our brains for answers to questions on music, international footballers and - ahem - some rather risque topics and battled seven other teams for the winners crown. Sadly, we came third, but it was a gallant effort by all! Thanks go to Amanda for organising this.
Pub Quiz at The Hanover Pub
Last, but certainly not least, thanks to Steve for donating loads of high-quality prints to the Brighton Group from his shop in Newhaven. We staged a print sale - offering these prints for a fraction of their retail price - at our regular meeting place at The New Madeira Hotel on Wedesnday 13th and Thursday 14th June. From Money to Picasso and Warhol to Disney (plenty of Mickey Mouse & friends!), there was a huge variety available and we raised £57 for the group. We hope to do a similar sort of thing at a larger event soon - any ideas, please contact us!
Thanks to everyone who supported the events of Diabetes Week - but don't let it stop there. If you have an idea for an event, please contact us and we'll be sure to add it to our Diary page and then follow it up with a full report afterwards!