Portavogie New Year’s Day Dippers raise money for Diabetes UK

Angela Ledlie organised this challenge as her son, Carter, has been living with type 1 diabetes for 10 years and they wanted to support their local charity. This is the second year this event has taken place and has grown from 50 participants to 125 people now taking part.

Angela said: ‘We were delighted to have so many people come out and join us for the New Year’s Day dip and help us raise money and awareness for Diabetes UK Northern Ireland as well as the RNLI. Our son, Carter, has type 1 diabetes so we know as a family the impact this condition has on the whole family and getting the local support that we have has been amazing.

'We would like to thank everyone who donated money and to those who braved the cold for us. We have now raised over £1,270 which will be split between these two worthy charities with more coming in every day so thank you to everyone for this fantastic amount.’

People with type 1 diabetes cannot produce insulin. About 8% of people with diabetes have type 1. No one knows exactly what causes it, but it’s not to do with being overweight and it isn’t currently preventable. It’s the most common type of diabetes in children and young adults, starting suddenly and getting worse quickly. Type 1 diabetes is treated by daily insulin doses – taken either by injections or via an insulin pump. It is also recommended to follow a healthy diet and take regular physical activity.

Diabetes UK Northern Ireland National Fundraiser, Naomi Breen, said, ‘Thank you so much to Angela, the Ledlie family, all the participants who took part in the dip and to everyone who kindly donated to the charity.

'We will be supporting more families living with diabetes and continue to raise awareness about how serious this condition is so thank you for helping the local diabetes community.’

If you would like to get involved and help fundraise for Diabetes UK Northern Ireland then please get in touch at fundraising@diabetes.org.uk or call 028 9066 6646.