A New College Pontefract student who has Type 1 diabetes has hailed the benefits that have been brought by a new insulin pump, and is using her new lease of life to help other young sufferers of the condition.
Laura Dunion, 17 from Oulton, has become one of the first NHS patients in the UK to receive the artificial intelligence insulin system, known in the industry as the Medtronic MiniMed 670G pump. Laura, who is planning to go to university in September to study to become a youth worker, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when she was eight years old, and until recently had to inject herself with insulin multiple times a day. Last year, Laura lobbied congress at Capitol Hill in America for extra Type 1 diabetes funding.
Six months on from when she started using the system, Laura now has the confidence and energy to do far more than ever before, including learning to dive, planning a skiing trip and raising money for other young sufferers of Type 1 diabetes by trying to win funds from the National Lottery’s People’s Project.
“We are trying to get votes to help us raise £50,000 of funding from the National Lottery to help other young people with Type 1 Diabetes,” said Laura. “All of the voluntary work I have been involved in has inspired me to want to help others.”
The £50,000 would go to DigiBete, a diabetes charity that works in partnership with the Leeds Children’s Hospitals. They hope to use the £50,000 to fund specialist video and training resources for young people with diabetes across the region.
Caroline Stewart – Head of School for Health, Care and Services at New College Pontefract said, “Laura is an outstanding student. She has brought such awareness to us all of the issues surrounding children and young people with type 1 diabetes. Laura has gained the admiration of both her teachers and her peers with the dedication to her charity work. We wish her success in her next ventures and know that she will continue to make a difference”.
To support the DigiBete’s campaign, all you need to do is visit www.thepeoplesprojects.org.uk and select ‘calendar north’ to cast your vote.
You can read more about Laura lobbying at Capitol Hill HERE
