Inspiring teenager honoured

Fundraiser for Diabetes UK

A Crieff teenager has been nominated for a national award for her inspirational fundraising efforts by Diabetes UK.

Shannon MacPhee (15) will go to the awards ceremony at the 200 SVS in Glasgow with her family on Saturday as she has been nominated for one of Diabetes UK’s Inspire awards, for Young Person’s Outstanding Contribution.

Since being diagnosed with type one diabetes in March 2014, Crieff High School pupil Shannon has been constantly fundraising, and is keen to put on annual events to raise money for the charity.

She and her family are also keen to raise awareness and break stereotypes which often surround the condition.

Mum, Theresa MacPhee, explained: “It all started when she was diagnosed with type one diabetes and she did a bingo night and raised over £1000.

“The following year, in 2015, we went down to do the London Bridges in 2015 just as a family, which is a 10-mile walk over all the bridges in London. Shannon was the driving force behind it.

“Last year she had Scotland Rocks in Crieff for a charity night and brought in about £750. She has raised nearly £3,000 in total now.

“She and one of my brothers are currently trying to organise a party night in Crieff for this year’s event. She’s really keen on doing something annually for Diabetes UK.

“Diabetes UK really try to look after young people and raise awareness. They did a shout out to her in their magazine, and then we got an out-of-the-blue email through from them to say Shannon had been nominated. There has been so much to do, it has come around really quickly.”

Theresa explained how her daughter Shannon is keen to raise awareness of type one diabetes, particularly after her biology class learned the main cause of diabetes was obesity.

Theresa said she felt driven to phone the school and get the biology lesson on diabetes changed to accurately reflect the truth about type one diabetes.

She said: “That’s not true of Shannon, she has type one diabetes and has no control over it because it is an auto-immune disease.

“We just need to raise awareness and help people understand a bit more about diabetes.

“Shannon has done really well and copes with it really well. When she goes back to the clinic she understands it and that is a huge part of her care.

“I know she will be fine and she is independent in dealing with it.

“Diabetes doesn’t hold her back, and I don’t need to stand over her shoulder all the time.

“She copes absolutely brilliantly and is keen to keep on fundraising more and more.”

The family say the local businesses across Strathearn have been exceptionally supportive and have helped donate to Shannon’s causes over the years.