A doctor, an office volunteer and two tea ladies were among the everyday heroes honoured in our South West Inspire Awards.
Individuals and groups from all over the South West joined the celebration on 7 June at the Castle Hotel in Taunton to be recognised for their hard work volunteering for us.
Dr Alex Bickerton, a diabetes specialist at Yeovil Hospital, won the Campaigning and Raising Awareness Award for his work to improve diabetes care in Somerset.
The Supporting Diabetes UK Award went to Sarah Green, who gives invaluable administrative support to the South West team.
Joint winners of the Supporting Others Award were Gillian Epton and Jean Duddridge, affectionately known as Jill and Jean, who volunteer with our Exeter local support group. They run a monthly coffee morning at Exeter Cathedral, dispensing hot drinks and diabetes information.
Other trophies presented on the day went to the Weston-super-Mare group for Fundraising, the children's and families group Exeter Snack Pack for Local and Community Group, and to Angela and Jim Lodge, who have both been volunteering for us for 27 years. They received the Long Service Award.
Winner of the Young People’s Contribution Award was 12-year-old Elena Suarez-Gonzalez, who raised funds via a sponsored walk, while Nathan Barnes, the Swindon founder of online Type 1 diabetes community Stabilize, was honoured for Reaching Out and Connecting.
Congratulations to all our award recipients and nominees. As we said on the day, you’re all winners!
If you would like to get involved and make a difference for people with diabetes, please get in touch with the South West team at south.west@diabetes.org.uk, or call 01823 448260.
