The Diabetes UK Partnerships evening took place on Wednesday 16 May 2007 at the fabulous Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn. Gray’s Inn is one of the four Inns of Court responsible for the education and training of barristers and where William Shakespeare is said to have once played in the old Inn Hall.
It was a well-attended event with over 100 Diabetes UK partners, individuals, trusts, foundations and companies coming together to receive heartfelt thanks for all their support and to toast their joint achievements in improving the lives of people living with diabetes.
Whether through sponsorship, staff fundraising, cause-related marketing, gifts or grants, Diabetes UK’s partners play a critical role in enabling the charity to provide quality support and information to people with diabetes while raising awareness of the condition to those at risk.
Douglas Smallwood, Chief Executive, (pictured left) reiterated the scale of the diabetes epidemic and highlighted some of its devastating consequences (diabetes can shorten life expectancy by up to 20 years) while emphasising the critical role that partners play in tackling it.
At the introduction of Penny Mordaunt, Director of Strategy, Policy & Partnerships, guests heard about the future vision of the organisation and the dynamic plans being put in place to achieve it.
Flowing wine and delicious canapés, kindly sponsored by Exhibition Services, added to the fine ingredients of a relaxed and informal evening full of laughter - and the odd bit of business!
At the end of a fabulous night no one was in doubt that they had already helped to achieve a lot, that they are making a difference to the lives of people with diabetes but that there is still much to do.
Diabetes UK looks forward to facing the UK’s biggest health challenge with its loyal partners and hopefully many new supporters in tow.