A mother from Northallerton has received a national award for setting up a support group for children and families living with Type 1 diabetes.
Jo Everson has been presented with a Reaching Out and Connecting Inspire Award, from the charity Diabetes UK.
Jo, 48, an administrator with North Yorkshire Police, set up the South Tees Diabetes UK group in 2016. She started it with the help of her daughter, Jessica, 22, after one of her other two children, Adam, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 2014, when he was aged eight.
She said: “After Adam was diagnosed there was very little peer support available in the local area.
“The hospital were great but I wanted to talk to other families affected by diabetes and felt that meeting other children with the condition would help Adam too.
“That’s when I decided to set up the South Tees group to offer support to families in the local area.”
They host an array of events for families and children throughout the year, including soft play for young children, ‘escape rooms’ and half-term activities.
Type 1 diabetes is a condition where the pancreas cannot produce insulin which is needed to carry glucose around the body. No one knows exactly what causes it, but it’s not connected with being overweight and isn’t currently preventable.
It is treated by daily insulin doses – taken either by injections or via an insulin pump. If not managed well, it can lead to devastating complications, but with the right treatment, knowledge and support people living with diabetes can lead a long, full and healthy life.
Jo added: “I think if Adam and our family had access to a local group when he was first diagnosed, it would have been easier for him and for us. I’m so happy that the group can offer peer support to families.
“We couldn’t do this without the support of all the people involved in the group, who work hard to help make life with diabetes that little bit easier for families in South Tees.”
She received her award on December 9, after the group held its Christmas get-together on a Santa sleigh ride.
Clare Howarth, head of the North at Diabetes UK said: “It’s an honour to recognise Jo’s hard work and the vital role of the South Tees group with these awards. Living with diabetes can be difficult for young people and their families.
“Peer support and the emotional care it provides, plays an incredibly important role in helping people manage their condition.
“A huge thank you to Jo and everyone involved in the South Tees group.”
The South Tees Diabetes UK group has also received a ‘Local Group and Community’ award for the work it does to support families across Teeside and North Yorkshire.
To find out more or to join the group go to; https://south-tees-family-group.diabetesukgroup.org
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