Students at Reaseheath College, Nantwich, have launched a year of activities aimed at raising funds for Diabetes UK and increasing awareness of the condition.

Members of Reaseheath’s Student Association chose World Diabetes Day (Wednesday 14 November) to announce that Diabetes UK would be their charity of the year.

Student Association Vice President Cai Hanmer-Roberts explained: “Diabetes has affected a lot of our staff and students, whether it’s because they have the condition themselves or have family members who have the disease. We also recently lost a colleague to diabetes complications, so we want to do all we can to support people with and at risk of diabetes.”

Diabetes UK is the leading UK charity for people living with and at risk of diabetes, a condition where there is too much glucose in the blood because the body cannot use it properly. There are an estimated 4.6 million people living with diabetes in the UK. If not managed well, both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes can lead to devastating complications including blindness, lower limb amputation, kidney failure and stroke.

Reaseheath’s students, led by the Student Association, have planned a range of fund raising activities including a Christmas Ball, Santa’s Grotto, a tractor pull and collections in the local area. Staff and students will also be raising awareness of the condition and the risks of developing Type 2 diabetes across campus and in the local community.

Maria Whittaker, Regional Fundraiser at Diabetes UK said: “We are delighted to have the support of Reaseheath College and look forward to supporting the students in raising awareness of diabetes in the local community in the year ahead. Diabetes is a serious condition that affects more than four million people in the UK alone. The support of Reaseheath’s students and the funds they raise will go a long way to helping us create a world where diabetes can do no harm.”

Caption: Student Association members Adam Kean, Mali Ratcliffe, Niccy McCluskey, Callum Hollis, Lisa Trodden and Cai Hanmer-Roberts launch a year of fundraising for Diabetes UK