A TROWBRIDGE mum-of-three said she never expected her bear and journal exchange project for children with type one diabetes to get so popular, after her daughter was diagnosed with the disease as a young child.

Donna-Michelle Donkin, of Azalea Drive, started the Adventures of the Insulin Gang Bears? last year and sends bears to families across the globe, who write about their experience in the accompanying journal to then pass it on.

Her daughter Cerys was diagnosed five years ago when she was nine.

Mrs Donkin said: “In the front of the journal, I have written: ‘I am sending you this because you are special. We know it can be hard work sometimes and things take a bit more planning but to just remember it is a tiny part of you and you are made up of so many different things.

“The family keep the bear and journal for a few weeks and write or draw in it and then send it on to another family. I’ve built up such a big waiting list for the bears now and the requests keep coming in.”

Almost 30 bears are now touring the world, and have been sent to India, New Zealand, America, Australia, Canada, Belgium and Japan.

The 39-year-old also set up a support website for children with type one diabetes to talk to other children which eventually led to a Facebook being created for parents which now bodes 3,500 likes.

She now also hosts fundraisers for Juvenile Diabetes Research and her latest will be a Gangster and Molls themed evening at Westbury Labour Club on March 19.

Organised along with her partner Phil Shergold, the night will include a three-course dinner with entertainment and a pop up salon. She is also planning on walking across hot coals in February.

Mrs Donkin added: “Our lives have changed quite a lot since the diagnosis because her blood sugars are often quite erratic and she has to do about 10 prick tests every day and then she has to give insulin accordingly. There is a lot of planning involved and you can still eat anything but you need to work in your insulin and be mindful to that. Things like sport can also be hard work for her because you have to plan everything out in advance. For a child with T1, life isn’t as carefree as before.

“Anyway we can help fund research to find a cure then I’ll do it.”

For more information about tickets for the fundraiser, call 07718372789.