By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
IT WAS 12 years ago when Deb’s son, Ryan, was diagnosed with type one diabetes.
And now more than ever Deb Bayley is campaigning to raise greater awareness about T1D, an illness she still believes people don’t know enough about.
Later this month, on Saturday 28 March, Deb will hold a special T1D community event at the Eden Rise Shopping Centre in Berwick, with all money raised to be donated to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).
Ryan Bayley, 14, was diagnosed with T1D at two and a half years of age.
“Twelve years on, and I am still on a mission to raise awareness for T1D,” Deb said.
“November last year, I decided to create a T1D community event. The main reason for this idea is because every time I go out to talk to members of the public about T1D, a lot of people are not even aware of this disease.
“So I thought what better way to reach out to the public by creating an awareness event. I sent a proposal through, to host a T1D event at Eden Rise, and they did not hesitate, they could understand how important it is to raise awareness for T1D in our community.”
The event is expected to run from 10am to 3pm, with a range of stalls open and prizes available throughout the day. While entertainers A Dash of Colour and Lady Uppity Crust will encourage children to participate in a range of fun activities.
Deb said TID information posters would be handed out to people at the community event, and thanked the sponsors.
“This is to reach out to anybody and everybody, there are far too many people that don’t understand type 1 can affect young children,” Deb said.
“This is why this event needs to happen.”
For more information, contact Deb at debbayley1@hotmail.com, and to support the JDRF, visit www.jdrf.org.au.
