A MOTHER’S enthusiasm to help others after her son was diagnosed with serious diabetes bore fruit at the weekend when about 100 people turned out to a charity ball which raised more than $4000.
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Vanessa Buhlman told The Standard yesterday she was thrilled by the result from the Saturday night event.
“Everyone commented how good it was and we are thinking about making it an annual event,” she said. “We’ll give some of the proceeds to the juvenile diabetes research fund and the rest is to help with a planned respite camp at Cooriemungle which will cost about $10,000, just for insurance.”
Ms Buhlman’s 11-year-old son was diagnosed with type-one diabetes in October 2011.
“It changes everything — even simple things like having a meal out become difficult,” she said.
“I decided to organise the ball to give something back for the help we had from the Diabetes Resources Centre.
“There’s so much support available in metropolitan areas, but in regional areas it is not so easy.”
Guest speaker for the night was Ann Morris, of St John of God Hospital, Warrnambool, who has been named one of three diabetes educators of the year Australia-wide.
Several local businesses supported the ball, with donations of prizes for raffles and spot prizes.
People with type-one diabetes depend on up to four insulin injections every day of their lives and must test their blood-glucose levels several times daily.
pcollins@fairfaxmedia.com.au