Chloe Grierson from Gretna is taking part in a sponsored walk and cycle day alongside her family to raise money for Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).
The family have raised over £25,000 for charity since Chloe was diagnosed at the age of six.
Chloe said: “The support so far is really appreciated, not just for this event but for the past ten years too.
“From coffee mornings and bingo nights to sponsored walks, the kindness from everyone who has been there and done something to help all these years is amazing to see.”
Her mum Kerry recalled the day her daughter was diagnosed with the condition.
She said: “February 6, 2006 — a date that we’ll never forget. A day that changed our lives forever.
“It’s changed us as a family because it’s a condition you’ll never control, you have to just manage it the best that you can.”
She added: “Basically I just live for a cure. Not just for Chloe, for every diabetic out there, because I know on a daily basis what they go through just for them to have a normal life like us.”
Chloe and her parents Kerry and John and her sister Danielle have had support from the community and from JDRF for a number of years.
Kerry said: “A lot of people have done things themselves to raise money and give it to Chloe for supporting the JDRF, like Annan Athletic for example where we do collections on match days.
“Many people have been so kind at lots of groups and charities.”
Chloe said: “Like Gretna Day Centre — they’ve been loyal supporters since day one. That’s where we’ve hosted our bingo nights and coffee mornings and they don’t charge us a thing to do it.”
The family are hoping for similar support on June 5, when the big day takes place starting from the Old Blacksmiths Shop in Gretna Green.
Kerry said: “It’s about raising vital funds but more importantly it’s about raising awareness, which we haven’t got a lot of in this area.
“And it’s about bringing people together too, particularly those with diabetes, because you do feel alone.”
She added: “It’s about trying to bring people together to understand it, because Chloe has no friends who have diabetes like her.
“We hope that it’s a good turnout and we’re thankful to Alistair Houston for supporting this event and to the JDRF as well as all of those who have signed up for the event so far.”
* To donate online go to www.justgiving.com/jdrf
