A Geelong founded charity that supports those diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes has sold around 3000 of its popular beanies, but wants your help to sell more.
National Diabetes Week runs from July 10 to 16.
Type 1 Foundation chief executive Ange Liston-Mccaughley said the charity has grown from a one-person operation to now having branches in the Hunter region, Ballarat, Melbourne and Brisbane with a branch to open in Sydney soon.
Ange said the organisation wants to sell 5000 beanies to help those living with Type 1 diabetes.
Ange has been raising diabetes awareness and funds to support people with the disease since her daughter Lila’s diagnosis in 2013.
Like many children with diabetes, Lila’s condition was initially misdiagnosed before her family went on holiday.
But her condition worsened on the vacation before Ange called an ambulance to take her to Gold Coast University Hospital. Doctors later said Lila had been an hour away from going into a coma.
Type 1 Foundation is celebrating its seventh birthday and has grown markedly.
Ange said there had been a spike in Type 1 diabetes diagnoses recently.
“I think there are a lot more autoimmune diseases around and Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease,” she said.
“During COVID, we were all stuck at home and we never really got sick.
“Not that we are kind of back to normal, our immune systems are lower.”
The organisation hosts all kinds of fun events, including a superhero day at Movie World next week, a mums’ dinner in Sydney, a gala ball in Geelong and Camp Koala in Queenscliff.
To buy a beanie or to find out more about Type 1 Foundation, go to type1foundation.com.au
