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Meet our Inspire Winners: Supporting Others Award

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Meet Sara, winner of our Supporting Others Inspire Award

An Aberdare woman has been honoured for her volunteering work with Diabetes UK Cymru by winning a national award.

Sara Crowley, 29, who has lived with Type 1 diabetes since she was three, was presented with the Inspire award for Supporting Others at a ceremony in Nantgarw on 4 March. This award recognises volunteers who show remarkable support to people living with or affected by diabetes.

Sara is passionate about helping others living with Type 1 diabetes, particularly young people and those who have suffered some of its serious complications. After temporarily losing her sight as a result of the condition Sara became a dedicated volunteer for the charity. She has supported the Diabetes UK Cymru team at their Cardiff office and has become a social media ambassador raising awareness of the seriousness of Type 1 diabetes online. Sara has also acted as a volunteer speaker, sharing her experiences with others and giving advice on the ways that the right care and support can help those who are struggling to manage the condition.

"I knew that if I could help just one person then it would be worth it"

Sara said: “It is an absolute honour to have been nominated and to have won this award. When I first started volunteering to share my story my main aim was to improve diabetes services, but I knew that if I could help just one person then it would be worth it.

“Since then I have got to know some of the most courageous and inspirational people I’ve ever met. Many of these people don’t even know how incredible they are but are tirelessly juggling life and the hurdles of diabetes every day.

“I really enjoy volunteering and being able to support others and hope to continue to raise awareness of Type 1 diabetes.” 

Diabetes UK have a fantastic team in Wales and it was great to see so many people come together earlier today to celebrate the dedication, inspiration, time and efforts of their volunteers. 

There are now over 188,000 people with diabetes in Wales and Diabetes UK Cymru’s volunteers play a vital role in supporting their work. The charity’s volunteers help raise awareness of how to manage the condition, campaign to improve the quality of care available, fundraise for pioneering research and work to stem the rising tide of diabetes.

Sara is a real inspiration to anyone living with Type 1 diabetes

Diabetes UK Cymru’s Director Dai Williams said: “Sara has overcome so many of the challenges that Type 1 diabetes has put in her way that she is a real inspiration to anyone living with the condition. Through her dedicated volunteering she has reached thousands of people across Wales with her positive messages.

“Through our Inspire Awards we thank our hard working volunteers like Sara for their contributions and highlight the positive difference their work has made to people who are living with diabetes.

“Our volunteers are out there working hard in the community day in and day out. Our much-needed work wouldn’t be possible without their incredible support and I would like to extend my sincere thanks to all of our volunteers who make an enormous difference through their support.”

About our Inspire Awards

TheInspire Awardsrecognise and celebrate outstanding individuals as well as group volunteer efforts.  The winners are chosen by judging panels across the UK and are then placed in a pool to be judged for the UK-wide Inspire Awards which will be presented in summer 2017.  

Diabetes UK Cymru has nearly 500 registered volunteers, many of whom also belong to the charity’s 33 local support groups. To find out more about becoming a volunteer for Diabetes UK Cymru, or to join a local support group, please emailwales@diabetes.org.ukor call 029 2066 8276.

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