Son's diabetes led couple into changing lives forever

The Sentinel reports on a couple providing useful service for over 25 years.

Stuart and Glenys Grime, of Oldhill Close, Talke Pits, were inspired to help raise money and awareness about diabetes after their son Robert was diagnosed with the condition as a teenager. Stuart, a 74-year-old retired advertising representative and Glenys, a 73-year-old retired nursery nurse, also have two grandchildren and have been volunteering for Diabetes UK for more than 25 years.

Colette Warbrook reports:

When and where did you first meet?

Stuart says: We met at the Trentham Gardens ballroom in 1959 when I was about 25. I asked Glenys for a dance, and as we danced we got chatting and found we got on well together. There was a mutual attraction and we started going to Trentham together at weekends, so things developed slowly from there.

Glenys says: We met while ballroom dancing at Trentham Gardens and our relationship gradually developed from there. We got on very, very well together, and we used to love dancing.

What was your first impression of each other?

Stuart says: I'm not one of those romantics. We just took a great liking to one another and realised we were very, very well suited.

Glenys says: I just knew Stuart was going to be very steady and caring, and that is how he has always been. He has been very caring to both me and Robert, and also the grandchildren.

How was your wedding day?

Stuart says: We just drifted into getting married, so there was no formal proposal. Our wedding was in October, 1960, at Chesterton Parish Church. The sun shone and it was a nice day all round.

Glenys says: Our wedding day was very nice. It was a lovely, sunny day.

How did you find out Robert had diabetes?

Stuart says: It was in 1982 and we were in Windsor at the time staying in a caravan. Robert was aged about 14 or 15, and he kept running to the toilet. He was thirsty and was losing weight too, so we knew there was something wrong. We broke off our holiday, came home and went to the doctor. It was found that Robert had diabetes and he was taken to hospital straight away.

Glenys says: It was during the October half-term, and Robert looked very gaunt. We became very concerned, so we decided to pack up and come straight home. The next morning we went to the doctor and a sample was taken and he was then admitted to hospital immediately.

How did you cope with the news?

Stuart says: It was very worrying. Robert was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, which means his body is unable to produce insulin, so he has to inject himself with it. We didn't know anything about diabetes at the time, and we were taught how to inject Robert. However, he has always injected himself, right from day one.

Glenys says: Back then we thought diabetes was something old people had, and we'd never come into contact with anyone who actually had it, so we were rather frightened.

How did it change family life?

Stuart says: Some foods were banned, some could be eaten in moderation and others were perfectly OK. We used to have to measure out portions, which you don't have to do today. Sweets were out, so to this day we don't have a dessert after a main meal, which means Robert doesn't feel left out.

Glenys says: We carried on as usual, but we changed our diet. Back then we had to weigh things like apples and bread, but once we knew all these things, we just got on with it.

Why did you start volunteering for Diabetes UK?

Stuart says: Glenys knew someone who told us about the Newcastle branch of what was then the British Diabetic Association. We went to our first meeting a few months after Robert was diagnosed and we learned an awful lot through that. Later we were invited on to the committee and I was chairman for 14 years. The group is now known as Diabetes UK North Staffs Voluntary Group, and it has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for things like equipment for the diabetes unit at The University Hospital Of North Staffordshire.

Glenys says: Someone told us about the meetings in Newcastle and we went to our first one in February 1983. We found the charity very, very helpful, and we've been involved ever since. There are so many dedicated people in our group who all work very hard, but we're looking for some younger people to get involved, because we're all getting older.

How is Robert now?

Stuart says: Robert is 41 now and he is fine. He has to inject himself four times a day, but he's been a model diabetic. He hasn't done anything silly and has always kept to the regime. People can still lead relatively normal lives, but there are restrictions.

Glenys says: He is a wonderful son, and he holds down a very good job as a quantity surveyor. We've been very fortunate with how he has looked after himself.

A Christmas Fair will take place at Bradwell Lodge, Porthill, at 2pm on Saturday, November 29, to raise money for Diabetes UK North Staffs Voluntary Group. To find out more about the group, contact the secretary, David Scott, on 01782 861690

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Those in need helping others with donations to Food Bank of Eastern Michigan; Students in Flint schools among those giving back

FLINT, Michigan -- Potter Elementary students are paying it forward to help fight hunger.

The need for food assistance is up more than ever among families at the northeast-side school, but Principal Anthony Sitko says his students are also setting a different, more inspirational record.

Two local churches recently gave Thanksgiving food baskets to the families of 20 Potter students -- and the elementary school responded by collecting a couple hundred food items to be donated to the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan, he said.

The drive, organized by the school's Youth Advisory Council, is an example of a subtle shift the food bank has seen in community service. In these poor economic conditions, kids seem to be understanding at a younger age the concept of helping the less fortunate, especially when they see it first-hand.

Sixth-grader Marissa Ebert, who helped organize the food drive, said her family probably needs some help from time to time.  "I wanted to be able to help somebody else," said Marissa, who brought in cans of peas and corn. "I think we helped a lot of people."

Flint Journal extras

Many Flint schools are giving back this holiday season. Here are some examples of their generosity:

• Bryant Elementary: Holding a canned food drive to go toward Thanksgiving food baskets.

• Doyle-Ryder Elementary: Giving away 10 Thanksgiving food baskets.

• Freeman Elementary: Collecting money and canned food for holiday food basket.

• Southwestern Academy: Sponsoring baskets for the needy; Holding a classroom "Adopt-A-Family" project.

Source: Flint School District

Sitko said he often notices that the students who are in need of assistance are seeing that others also need help.
"The demand is up, but the generous giving was also up," he said. "These are tough times and students want to provide support for others who need it."
The food bank recently kicked off its annual month-long fundraising campaign, Face of Hunger. It's goal is to raise $720,000, but food drives like the one at Potter also help the food bank's central mission.

"It shows the real philanthropic nature of our community," said William Kerr, food bank president. "It really is a wonderful example of generosity."

When people think about hunger, they often think of the homeless, Kerr said, but that's usually not the case with many food bank clients.

Many supporters of the food bank have at one point or another needed to use its services, he said. It's evidence that those who need help often feel the need to give back.

"We're not so much a community of haves and have-nots -- we're a community of equals," Kerr said. "Some of us have more than others at certain times and give back."

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Local student changing lives with colourful picture

Service from the heart out of Lucknow Sentinel in Canada:

Dona-Maria Knight-Dubé, of Lucknow is celebrating the launch of Happiness Is… a picture book created by children for children to raise awareness about, and funds for, child poverty. Dona-Maria participated in a contest with hundreds of children across Canada and around the world, and was chosen as a finalist for her drawing of the word future. Dona-Maria now has the satisfaction of knowing that her drawing is helping to provide children living in extreme poverty with essential items for their health and well being - as well as hope for the future.

Happiness Is… is a unique picture book that provides Canadians of all ages with the unique opportunity to learn about how children living in extreme poverty see their world; it acts as a discussion tool for adults to address the topic of child poverty with their children. At the same time, when parents, guardians and teachers purchase a copy of Happiness Is…, they have the satisfaction of knowing they are taking the first steps to change a child's life, as the proceeds from the book provide children-in-need with critical items such as clean water, nutritious food, medical care and an education.

“I'm so excited my drawing was chosen to be in the book!” says Dona-Maria. “I really hope I can help other kids around the world and make a difference.”

Happiness Is… was created as part of an initiative by Christian Children's Fund of Canada (CCFC), a child-focused, international development organization, to help children living in extreme poverty. Imaginative and colourful, the book is a vivid collection of child drawings from across Canada and around the world. Children were invited to express what certain words, like 'happiness' or 'danger', meant to them to show the differences and similarities between how children in different countries see their world.

“In many countries racked by chronic poverty, children say they feel better knowing that people in other countries far away care about them,” says Dr. Michael Wessells, Professor of Clinical Population and Family Health at Columbia University and Professor of Psychology at Randolph-Macon College. “Through Happiness Is…, we express our care for the children of the world and become part of a circle of people committed to supporting children's well-being and resilience.”

Happiness Is…is the latest life-saving gift to be added to the CCFC Gift Catalogue. The 2008 Christmas Gift Catalogue is currently available online at www.ccfcanada.ca, providing essential items to children and families in eight developing countries around the world. To purchase a copy of Happiness Is… please visit www.ccfcanada.ca/DonateNow/GiftCatalogue/ or call 1-800-263-5437.

For almost 50 years, Christian Children's Fund of Canada has helped children and families of all faiths break the cycle of extreme poverty around the world. CCFC is a Canadian based charity and child-centred international development organization. Please visit www.ccfcanada.ca for more information on our global approach.

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