News - Diabetes UK Northern & Yorkshire

A group of 17 people from North Tyneside have taken on the Coast-to-Coast cycle ride to raise funds for Diabetes UK in memory of local pub landlord and ‘pied-piper of pubs’ Bill Kerridge.

The group, which included Bill’s daughter Gemma, family friend David Rawlinson, a number of pub regulars and friends from the close knit community, started their journey in Whitehaven on 9th June and finished the ‘Coast-to-Cannon’ ride at the Cannon Inn on 11th June, which also marked the beginning of National Diabetes Week.

Chrissie Holmes, 62, from Starbeck has been awarded the Alan Nabarro medal by Diabetes UK for living with diabetes for 50 years.

Chrissie was only 12 years old when she was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. Having been unwell and lost a lot of weight her parents didn’t know what was wrong. It was only when a family friend recognised some of the symptoms - loss of weight, thirst, tiredness - that Chrissie was taken to her GP and her mum insisted she was tested for diabetes.

Diabetes UK and the Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust have come together to provide foot care training for people with diabetes in the local area.

The event on Tuesday 14 February is part of Diabetes UK'sPutting Feet First campaignand is aimed at helping people living with diabetes to gain information on how to take care of their feet and what signs to be aware of in the event of complications and has been funded by the Sheffield Diabetes UK Group.