Families learn about diabetes and exercise

Families and schools came together to learn more about managing Type 1 diabetes while exercising last Sunday.
Becky Botham-Armstrong at the Type One Teens eventBecky Botham-Armstrong at the Type One Teens event
Becky Botham-Armstrong at the Type One Teens event

The Type 1 Diabetes Sports Educational Day was held at Bedford Blues Rugby Club, organised by local mum Susan Walls with members of the Bedford-based voluntary group Type One Teens.

The group is led by local parents of children aged 10 and above who live with Type 1 diabetes.

Over 200 adults, children and teens with type 1 diabetes and their families attended, along with representatives from Lincroft School, Bedford Modern School, Bedford Girls School and Mark Rutherford School and nurses from Bedford Hospital.

People attending were given advice on how to manage the condition better whilecarrying out physical activity and school staff were given advice on how to support pupils with Type 1 diabetes.

Speakers included Becky Botham-­Armstrong, the daughter of cricketing legend Sir Ian Botham, who talked about her personal challenge climbing Kilimanjaro in 2014.

Two of the UK’s most respected Type 1 diabetes experts, Francesca Annan from Alder Hay Children’s Hospital and Prof Katherine Barnard from Bournemouth University, gave presentations.

Children and teenagers had football coaching by FA Skills Bedford, a boxercise session from Bedford Boxercise and activities from Fit for Sport.

Over lunch, Bedford councillor David Fletcher, who regularly appears on the BBC’s Flog It, carried out an auction to raise funds for the Type One Teens group.

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