Hollywood star backs JDRF campaign

BAFTA-nominated Felicity Jones took time out of her busy schedule preparing for the film awards over the weekend to support JDRF’s Type 1 diabetes awareness campaign.

Following in the footsteps of her friend and fellow Hollywood actor Jude Law, Felicity is helping to raise awareness of Type 1 diabetes charity JDRF, by posing with its campaign clapperboard. The campaign – #CountMeIn – is calling on the UK Government to give better support to Type 1 diabetes research.

I didn’t realise to what extent it takes over – the monitoring, carb-counting, injecting, finger prick-testing

Felicity, who was nominated for best actress in The Theory of Everything at the glitz awards on Sunday, said: “Many medical conditions have such a huge impact on daily life. For some the effects are visually obvious to people. But for others – like Type 1 diabetes – it’s not. I didn’t realise to what extent it takes over – the monitoring, carb-counting, injecting, finger prick-testing.

“At Cambridge, Stephen Hawking revolutionised physics. But the university’s medical science is also amazing. JDRF is funding research there to change the future for those with Type 1 diabetes.”

Before setting off to the BAFTA nominee party at Kensington Palace, she added: “I was told about JDRF by Jude Law – who supports its #CountMeIn campaign. It’s a great organisation that’s dedicated to delivering a cure for Type 1 diabetes. Until then, it campaigns, it offers support, it does a lot.

“It would be wonderful if more people unaffected by Type 1 diabetes knew more about it. So if I can do anything to raise awareness – and help bust some myths – then that’s cool.”

The 400,000 people in the UK who live with Type 1 diabetes – including 29,000 children – rely on multiple insulin injections or pump infusions every day just to stay alive. A child diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of five faces up to 19,000 injections and 50,000 finger prick blood tests by the time they are 18. The condition is not linked to lifestyle factors such as diet and exercise.

Talking to JDRF on the set of hit West End play Henry V last year, Jude Law said: “Type 1 diabetes can happen to anyone. It cannot be prevented, and is not linked to lifestyle factors such as diet and exercise. It is on the increase in the UK – especially in small children. As a father, I can appreciate the strain that could place on a family.”

He added: “That’s why JDRF has my full support for its #CountMeIn campaign for greater investment into Type 1 diabetes research. For both children and adults with the condition, we must push forward to find the cure.”

Six year old Dillan ­– who lives with type 1 diabetes – got to meet with Jude Law. His mother Anuja said: “Dillan was diagnosed with Type 1 when he was just 14 months old – the reality of pin pricking and injecting a child that age was heart breaking.

“He’s slowly realising what it means to live with the condition. I make him understand that having Type 1 diabetes is not going to stop him from doing anything in life. He asks me when he will be ‘normal’ again and when he will not have diabetes, I reply truthfully that there will one day be a cure. I truly believe this.”

She added: “Getting the chance to meet Jude and tell him Dillan’s story was amazing. When we met him he was incredibly kind and we are so grateful to have his support for JDRF.”

JDRF launched a new manifesto as part of its #CountMeIn campaign last week. Millie’s Manifesto – written by 12 year old JDRF supporter Millie Hainge – is asking all politicians to recognise the impact of living with Type 1 diabetes. In the run up to the General Election on 7 May, Millie and JDRF are urging people to share the Manifesto with their MP and the candidates standing for election.

Ben Moody, Senior Public Affairs Manager at JDRF, said: “We have heard all of the political parties talk about obesity and diabetes in the run up to the election. But 400,000 people in the UK live with Type 1 diabetes – an autoimmune condition entirely unrelated to lifestyle – and this figure is rising. It’s vital that the policymakers of the future know the difference, so that they can help to deliver a fairer future for people with Type 1 diabetes.

“To do this, I’m urging everyone who understands the burden of Type 1 to share Millie’s Manifesto with their local candidates in May’s election.”

Go to jdrf.org.uk to find out more.

Photo credit: James Appleton Photography