Brave Cameron Luck, aged 5, raises cash for diabetes research

10:36am Saturday 26th December 2009

By Nicola Fifield

THE bravery of a five-year-old boy who was diagnosed with diabetes earlier this year has inspired his schoolmates to raise funds for research into the potentially life-threatening condition.

Cameron Luck, a Year One pupil at Linton-on-Ouse Primary School, has to have two insulin injections every day to keep his diabetes at bay and must regularly monitor his blood sugar levels.

But the bubbly youngster has taken it all in his stride and has even been helping the school council to raise funds for Diabetes UK.

Cameron, who was diagnosed with diabetes in May, said: “When I first got it I wished I didn’t have it, but now I don’t mind because I’m used to it.

“When I found out I had to have injections, I was happy and sad because it hurts a lot, but it makes me better.

“I can still play football and do almost everything that I used to, but I can’t eat sweets. I was really sad I couldn’t eat jellies anymore.”

Cameron said he first knew something was wrong when he fell off some play equipment because he was so sleepy.

He was taken to York Hospital, where he underwent tests that revealed he had developed Type 1 diabetes.

His ten-year-old sister, Jessica, said: “I was very scared because I didn’t have a clue what it was about. I asked dad if it would go away and he said no, and that nearly made me burst into tears.”

This term, members of the school council organised a “Wear Blue for Diabetes Day”, raising £130.

The seven-strong team, made up of Jack Lyles, Mya Aston, Hannah Walton-Hughes, Georgian Barnes, Emily Garner, Jacob Speiran and Cameron’s sister, Jessica, have also drawn up a fundraising plan for the rest of the year.

Next term, they will hold a pyjama day at school and in the summer term they will organise a penny trail in the school playground.

The Friends of Linton-on-Ouse Primary School have also chipped in by selling refreshments at the harvest festival and Christmas plays, raising more than £120. They will also hold a balloon race at the school’s spring fair.

Head teacher Morag Burke said: “The money we raise is to help make the care better for people with diabetes and fund research so that hopefully one day they will find a cure – that would be wonderful.”