A YOUNG girl from Billinge living with a condition she describes as "horrible" has been chosen by the world’s leading type 1 diabetes charity to attend an event at Westminster.

Kaye Sparrow, aged 10, will be one of 60 adults and children with type 1 diabetes to attend the ‘Type 1 Parliament’ lobbying event taking place at Westminster on April 25, to urge the Government to fund more research to find a cure for the disease.

She was chosen to attend the event by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).

Type 1 diabetes is a serious autoimmune condition which causes the body’s immune system to turn on itself and attack the cells in the pancreas which produce insulin.

The condition affects around 350,000 people in the UK including 26,000 children.

Sufferers are required to inject insulin and take finger prick blood tests to manage the illness.

Like Kaye, who was nine when she was diagnosed, the illness usually strikes in childhood and stays with people for the rest of their lives.

Kaye said: “Diabetes has taken over my life, and also affects my family and everyone around me.

I don’t think people realise how awful and serious type 1 diabetes is.

“Diabetes is horrible. I want to ask the Government to give more funding for medical research so a cure can be found. I would love to see it cured in my lifetime.’ In 2009 the UK Government and National Institute of Health Research committed £51 million to research and tackle the growing problem of diabetes. Of this only £6 million was applicable to type 1 diabetes.

The JDRF believes this needs to change, and that not only will greater investment in research ensure a cure is found, but could also bring significant advantages to the UK economy.

Over the past few months Kaye has been raising money for JDRF, and has collected more than £1,000. The money will be used for the vital research needed to find a cure for type 1 diabetes.

Kaye has also tried to raise awareness of the condition, and helped to arrange an assembly at her school, St Aidans Primary School.

The school has been very supportive of Kaye since her diagnosis, for which Kaye’s mum, Tina is very thankful.

She said: “Kaye has received a lot of support from the head teacher, Mrs Ravenscroft and all of the staff at her school.

“Her diabetes came as a huge shock to all of us. It meant massive changes to every aspect of Kaye’s life. We would like to say a big thank you to everyone at the school who helped Kaye to make these adjustments.”