Birthday girl’s special wish
Diabetic asks party-goers not to give her gifts but to donate to the Cure Kids charity
Birthday parties are always fun, especially when there are loads of presents. But for one girl, there was nothing she wanted more this year than to help others.
Penny Valentine of Auckland celebrated her 12th birthday with family and friends last week.
She decided this year’s party would be different, with invited guests asked not to bring gifts but to donate towards a cause dear to her — trying to find a cure for diabetes.
The youngster was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at 22 months of age.
“I can’t remember not having diabetes,” she says.
“It’s having to remember to put insulin in, testing my blood glucose and watching my carbs.”
In New Zealand, more than 200,000 people have diabetes (mostly Type 2) and it is thought about 100,000 people who have it have not been diagnosed.
Type 1 diabetes, usually diagnosed in childhood, is an auto-immune condition that results in the body not creating enough insulin to keep blood-sugar levels normal.
People with Type 1 must monitor their blood-glucose levels carefully; making sure to eat the right foods and exercise regularly. There is no cure.
Penny’s mum, Sarah Valentine, said the family organised a birthday party with a difference; asking guests to bring a donation to go to children’s charity Cure Kids, which focused on raising funds for high-impact medical research.
“We talked about the fact that every year, kids blow out the candles and they have a wish. And her top wish would be to get rid of Type 1 diabetes or find a cure for everyone,” Valentine said.
“Rather than them spend $20 buying another pencil case or another thing that she doesn’t need, we could actually get that money to do something really good.”
Penny has set up a fundraising effort through the Givealittle website, calling on people to: “Help me help Cure Kids, please!” Penny Valentine
Just over $1000 had been raised by 3pm yesterday.
“I know what it’s like to live with a chronic condition that has no cure and it’s just not fair. I never get a break from it — not on my birthday, not on Christmas day. Never.
“But I’m hoping that one day they find a cure.”
Asked if she had thought about what her life would be like without diabetes, she said: “Yeah. I sometimes think about it. I’d probably say that it is annoying.”
She hoped to raise a lot of money for Cure Kids and that it would motivate others to do the same.
“It would be really cool if we did get a bit more and also inspire other kids to do the same thing — help.”