With the cake to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Lisburn branch of Diabetes UK were Pat Crosskery, Beverley Matherson, Pat McGreeny, James Crosskery, James Napier, Maureen Johnston, Mayor Ronnie Crawford and Diabetes Nurse Hilda Francey.	With the cake to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Lisburn branch of Diabetes UK  Mayor Ronnie Crawford and Diabetes Nurse Hilda Francey.

THE Lisburn branch of Diabetes UK celebrated its 10th anniversary last Monday at a function in Lagan Valley Hospital's Lagan View Conference Centre.

Guest speaker was Pat McGreeny, 'Bard of Armagh' and the Mayor Councillor Ronnie Crawford who chose the organisation as his charity of the year dropped in to pass on his congratulations and cut the cake.

The group's main aim at the time of its foundation was to provide up to date educational sessions on all aspects of Diabetes in a relaxed environment conducive to learning.

Its other aims were to increase awareness of the disease and raise funds.

The branch has been addressed by a number of speakers over the past decade including Richard Lane from London who was the first Islet Cell Transplant patient to come off insulin.

Broadcaster Walter Love spoke about 'living with diabetes in the real world' and Dr. Neville McClenaghan from the University of Ulster spoke about ground breaking research on the condition carried out in Northern Ireland.

The next meeting of the branch will be on Monday February 2 at 8.00pm when Senior Cardiac Nurse Specialist at the Mater Hospital Bernie Downey will speak about diabetes and heart disease.

Ulster Star
19/12/2008