Marcus Jones, the MP for Nuneaton, has joined with local businesses to help support the Junior Diabetes Research Foundation. The businesses have offered prizes for a raffle that will take place at the Shackerstone Family Festival on Sunday 2 September.
The fundraising is being spearheaded by David & Louise Parnell, of DP Financial Advisors in Nuneaton, who are hoping to raise funds for the Junior Diabetes Research Foundation in aid of children and adults who suffer from Type 1 diabetes. Their son, James, aged 10, was mis-diagnosed with his Type 1 diabetes on the 22nd November 2011. He had a 70% chance of not making it but fortunately pulled through. He now has to self inject insulin by way of a minimum of 4 needles per day and around 8-10 blood tests per day.
To help children who suffer from Type 1 diabetes and to raise awareness and give something back to the people who saved their sons life, Mr & Mrs Parnell are raising funds through the raffle and have secured support from a number of local businesses as well as the town’s Member of Parliament.
Type 1 diabetes affects over 400,000 people in the UK, 28,000 of them children. The condition results from an autoimmune response, where the body’s own defences turn against the cells of the pancreas that produce insulin. Insulin is vital as it enables our bodies to use glucose from food for energy and growth. Without it, we die.
People with type 1 diabetes rely on multiple insulin injections or pump infusions every day, just to stay alive. A child diagnosed with type 1 diabetes aged five faces 19,000 injections by the time they are 18 years old.
Commenting on the event, Dave Parnell said: “I am delighted to have secured the support of so many local businesses and from our local MP. The money raised will go toward the Junior Diabetes Research Foundation and the excellent work they do to fund research into this condition. Any support you can provide would be greatly appreciated - tickets are only £1 each, although we are encouraging people to buy blocks of 5!
“There are some great prizes on offer and all funds raised will go direct to the charity. I would really appreciate any support you can provide for a cause that is very close to mine and my family’s heart.”
Adding, Marcus Jones said: “I am pleased to support this charity event and am very encouraged that so many local businesses have supplied prizes for the raffle, that will be raising funds for a very worthwhile cause. I know Dave & Louise have worked incredibly hard to make this happen, and I wish them every success with their fundraising effort.”
Tickets will be on sale on Sunday 2 September at the Shackerstone Family Festival.