Muhammad Ali. Image: Neale Haynes
Submitted by Carmel Ganner
Diabetes UK has launched a competition to encourage young people with diabetes and their families to express their importance in everyday life.
Rochdale boxer Muhammad Ali encourages children and young people to participate through a picture, poem, song or sculpture.
Ali, who lives with type 1 diabetes, invites children and teenagers from all over the north of England to take part in the competition.
He will be a visiting judge alongside Yorkshire cricketer Jordan Thompson, who also lives with the disease.
As a child, Ali was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and, with the support of Diabetes UK, battled for his professional boxing license after being told he was unable to compete professionally due to his condition.
Ali, the UK’s first professional boxer with type 1 diabetes, said: “I want to encourage young people in the north of England to get involved and share what diabetes means to you.
“If you have diabetes it can be really helpful to hear from other people living with the disease and not only to raise awareness, but also to help other young people with diabetes realize that they are not alone are.
“I know that hearing other people’s stories have taught me a lot, and I hope that by sharing my experiences, I have also helped other people with diabetes.
“For me, diabetes has brought some difficulties in life, but it hasn’t stopped me from achieving my goals. It has encouraged me to educate myself so I can tackle the challenges that diabetes brings.”
Clare Howarth, Director of the North of England at Diabetes UK, said: “Diabetes is relentless and we want to encourage children and young people to use their voices and share how diabetes affects you and your family, whether or not you have it Suffer from diabetes or have a family member suffer with the condition.
“So if you’re feeling creative and want to help us raise awareness about type 1 diabetes, get involved – we’d love to hear from you.”
There are several categories that you can submit an entry in to win one of four Luxury Family Baskets. These include:
- Children with diabetes aged 0-5 years
- Children with diabetes aged 6-12 years
- Children with diabetes from 13 years of age
- Children and adolescents under the age of 18 with a close family member who has diabetes
For more information and to submit your submission, send an email to: n.west@diabetesorg.uk
