Deaf News: Deaf woman wins Diabetes UK award for fundraising

A Deaf woman from Stoke on Trent who has raised huge amounts of money for diabetes awareness to the deaf community has won a volunteering award from the charity Diabetes UK.

Victoria Crow, who is profoundly deaf, was presented with the Fundraising Award in recognition of her hard work at the charity’s Midlands Inspire Awards, held at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Derby, on Saturday April 16.

Victoria, whose partner Geoff Herbert was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in 2014, organised a very successful diabetes awareness workshop at Derby Deaf Club on World Diabetes Day last year.

People travelled from as far as North Wales, London, Birmingham and Sheffield to attend and money for Diabetes UK was raised on the day. This was vital for increasing awareness and disseminating knowledge to a hard to reach section of the community.

Victoria and Geoff’s fundraising was supported by their friend who grew a beard during 2015 and then shaved it off at the Deaf Club’s Christmas party.

The group has already raised more than £2,500 and hopes to raise more this year. The money will be used to raise awareness of diabetes to the deaf community – including the creation of short British Sign Language videos.

Peter Shorrick, Diabetes UK Midlands Regional Head, said: “Victoria’s commitment to raising money and awareness in 2015 was outstanding. Hundreds of people from the deaf community now have a better understanding of diabetes and this is a significant achievement.

“The fundraising Victoria and her Derby Deaf Club members have carried out for Diabetes UK will help us continue our vital work.

“Through our Inspire Awards we thank our hard working volunteers, like Victoria, for their contributions and highlight the positive difference their work has made to the lives of people who are living with diabetes.

“There are more than 3.5 million people diagnosed with diabetes in the UK, and our dedicated volunteers help them to manage their condition, campaign to improve the quality of care available to them, fundraise for pioneering research and work to stem the rising tide of diabetes. Our volunteers are out there working hard in the community day in and day out. Our much-needed work wouldn’t be possible without their incredible support and I would like to extend my sincere thanks to all of our volunteers who make an enormous difference through their support.”

Victoria said: “Geoff was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in December 2014 and we decided to raise money for Diabetes UK to help deaf people to learn about diabetes. Our friend Scott Coalwood agreed to grow his beard from January 2015 to December 2015 then shave it all off at the charity event.

“We raised over £2,500 to help the deaf project for Diabetes UK. We will do another event this year in December.”

Diabetes UK has around 300 registered volunteers in the Midland region, many of whom also belong to the charity’s 59 local and community groups. To find out more about becoming a volunteer for Diabetes UK in the Midlands, or to join a local support group, please emailvolunteering@diabetes.org.uk.