When Walford and North Shropshire College’s, Lorna Rodgers, Manager of the Footsteps Nursery on-site, approached parents Sharon and Rob Lewis to ask if they’d be interested in nominating a charity for the nursery to support this year, they had no hesitation in nominating the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).
JDRF funds research into juvenile diabetes and offers support to parents of newly-diagnosed children. They have been a great help to Sharon and Rob since their young son Daniel now aged four, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of 2 years and 9 months.
Daniel has been attending Walford and North Shropshire College’s Footsteps Nursery since before he was diagnosed, and the staff there have played their part in helping to support Daniel, by monitoring his condition and medicating him as necessary.
Sharon comments, “Daniel has been at the nursery for around three years and the staff have been absolutely brilliant. They have built up really strong bonds with him and he is able to let them know when he’s not feeling too good. Maybe even more importantly, they are able to tell for themselves, either through blood tests or just by monitoring his behaviour. We are very grateful to the nursery for supporting us with Daniel throughout this time and for helping us to support this wonderful charity. ”
Around 40 people, including Nursery staff and children, friends and family members, all got together to complete a 13-mile walk around Lake Vyrnwy. Altogether the group raised a total of £1178.30 for the charity. Becky Ankers, Nursery Nurse for the Baby Room at the nursery commented, “It was tiring but we all really enjoyed it. It was good for the staff to do something all together as a group and little Daniel put many of the adults to shame. He completed the whole walk, carrying his bucket and raising money all along the route.”
For more information about Walford and North Shropshire College Footstep’s Nursery please take a look around this website or telephone Lorna Rodgers, Nursery Manager on 01691 688007