A TRAVELLING teddy bear scheme supporting children with Type 1 diabetes, set up by a Westbury-born mum and her two daughters, has restarted after being grounded due to the Covid pandemic.
The Donkin family – Donna and her daughters, Cerys and Alena (pictured) - founded the initiative, along with The Insulin Gang support group, and also wrote and illustrated a book, to help educate children who have been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes (T1). Their work began after Cerys was diagnosed in January 2011 at the age of nine.
Now The Insulin Gang bears group has 2,300 members, and there are 65 bears travelling around the world. Donna told White Horse News, “The bears had a short break due to Covid and hygiene but they are just starting back on their travels. We have one bear who stays in an Indian hospital but the rest travel. We even have a bear for the siblings of those with T1 diabetes now as some were feeling left out.”
Donna started sending bears to children with T1 on loan for a month, with a journal, in which they could write or draw about their adventures with their bear. The idea is that the children read each other’s journal entries and realise they are not alone. The family update the Facebook page and families actively follow the bears.
Bears are located across the world including in the UK, America, Australia, Portugal and Africa, and they have met celebrities such as Nick Jonas and Robert Downey Jr, and visited parliament.
In a recent Facebook post Donna said, “Is your child a teddy bear lover? Do they have T1 diabetes? Would they like to take part in my Travelling Bears Scheme?
“It is free to have a teddy bear visit your child for a month. The teddy comes with an accompanying journal for your child to write or draw in, sharing their adventures big or small, to then pass on to another child with T1 diabetes.
“I have 65 bears travelling all over the world. Bears have been mainly grounded over the last year due to Covid but are now beginning to travel again. If you wish to find out more please message me. I’ll reply as soon as possible. There is a Facebook page which families join so they can upload their bear adventures and children love to see who the bear visits next @ The Adventures of The Insulin Gang Travelling bears.”
Donna’s latest bear, Anne (pictured), was sent in memory of her friend who sadly lost her life to Covid. Donna said, “Her daughter is T1 diabetic and we’d become close through that. She loved the travelling bears so it felt right to have one in her memory.”
Donna, who now lives in Trowbridge, said before Cerys was diagnosed she had never heard of children having T1 so had to quickly get to grips with their new way of life and help her daughter adjust. After following advice from Diabetes UK, and making connections with other people with T1, the family set up a support group to provide connections for Cerys and a place for people to chat. This was where ‘The Insulin Gang’ started.
Donna said, “I saw a massive increase in members over the pandemic period with over a thousand new members meaning I am now reaching 8,800 people with diabetes, it is predominantly for those connected to T1 diabetes but we welcome everyone with all types of diabetes, it is a great platform for advice, sharing of latest medical research news, friendship and a sense of community.”
Cerys struggled to come to terms with her diagnosis, so Donna decided to throw a fundraising tea party, helping her to focus on inviting friends. This began a whole list of fundraising events totalling over £10,000 raised for Diabetes UK and other charities by the family. Cerys is now studying animal management and Alena, who has M.E., is studying art. Both girls are on the equality and diversity team at Wiltshire College with a view of making positive changes and bringing education surrounding issues that still exist today surrounding disability discrimination.
Donna said, “Both of the girls have various chronic health conditions, and this has affected various aspects of life. Despite this they both achieve amazing things, they are talented, ambitious and exceptionally kind, and are set to make a huge positive impact on the world around them I believe, because they know the struggles a lot of people face to feel heard, to feel included, to engage in accessible education, and to face struggles with health.
“Our support groups, and our books, are an extension of wanting to reach out to others and to develop a sense of community.”
Donna is working on her second book, Sugar Bear Goes on Holiday. She said, “My first book had some lovely feedback, I know that it has been taken into several schools, hospitals and has made a difference to many children who have T1 but also at educating children gently who have parents with T1.
“I am nearly finished with writing book number two, ‘Sugar Bear Goes on Holiday’. I am just needing to add a few more illustrations and it is good to go and will be available on Amazon. I have aimed this one at slightly older children.”
For more information about joining The Insulin Gang or the Travelling Bears group email Donna on donnamichellehall@hotmail.com
