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Collier Park Primary book sale to benefit type 1 diabetes research

Aaron CorlettSouthern Gazette

TAMMY Boulton is on a mission to help researchers find a cure for type 1 diabetes.

Her daughter Sarah (8) was diagnosed with the condition when she was just two years old and in response Mrs Boulton has raised about $40,000.

The Leeming family’s latest fundraiser is a book sale at the Collier Park Primary School, where Sarah and her sister Olivia (11) attend, with funds going to the Juvenile Research Diabetes Foundation.

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“My motivation is to help researchers find out why it happens, I still know some people who think Rachel has type 1 diabetes because she had too much sugar,” Mrs Boulton said.

“I also want to raise awareness about the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes; just because she’s living with it doesn’t mean she can’t have cake, she needs to eat healthy just like everyone else.

“I tell her to not let it affect her and I remind her that she is a functioning member of society, it might get her down but I tell her to look at the positives.”

Mrs Boulton said type 1 diabetes affected Sarah in many ways.

“It affects her in every sense, not only is it the physical aspect of having insulin injections, it’s the idea that she was to be monitored 24/7,” she said.

“She needs to be monitored during the middle of the night, which means she needs to be woken up and checked on.

“It doesn’t stop during the holidays and it requires extra planning if she stays over at a friend’s house.”

Mrs Boulton said Olivia had been an important part in raising money for diabetes research.

“I remember when Sarah was first diagnosed and Olivia asked how she could help; that’s when she came up with the idea of selling lolly jars,” she said.

The fundraiser will take place on October 16 from 10am to 3pm and includes a number of activities including the books that will be for sale.

Author and illustrator Wendy Binks will make an appearance and there will be games, a sausage sizzle, a cake and lolly stall, animal farm and inflatable rides will be a part of the fun of the day.

There are about 20,000 books for sale, which have been collected or donated to the family.

According to Diabetes Australia, type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system is activated to destroy the cells in the pancreas, which produces insulin.

The condition is not linked to modifiable lifestyle factors; there is no cure and it cannot be prevented.