Pictured above: Dudley and District Business Club
chairman Stuart Price (centre) watches as Stourbridge, Dudley and
District Voluntary Group of Diabetes UK chair Tracy Lee
demonstrates diabetes care on club committee member Adrian
Goodaker
People with diabetes in Dudley and Stourbridge are to be helped
by a cash injection from Dudley and District Business Club.
Members of the club, which meets at Hagley Golf Club, Wassell
Grove Lane , Hagley, on the third Tuesday of the month, this week
adopted the Stourbridge, Dudley and District Voluntary Group of
Diabetes UK as their Charity of the Year.
Tracy Lee, chairman of the diabetes group, whose son Will, has
the condition, and celebrated his sixth birthday last week, said:
"I was delighted that our group was chosen as the nominated charity
for the year. I think this initiative by the DDBC is
excellent.
"I joined the Business Club around 3 years ago and have always
enjoyed the meetings which are friendly, yet informative,
affairs."
Tracy, 45, added: "Will was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at
the age of 2½ and my husband and I didn't know what had hit
us. We thought he had a bug, but within 5 minutes of entering the
doctor's surgery I was told that he had a serious, lifelong,
condition and we spent the next 4 days in hospital while he was
stabilised. We had to learn to do regular finger prick (blood
glucose) tests, and multiple daily injections.
"We found that diabetes is often misunderstood: many think that
by avoiding sweet food that everything will be alright - but that's
far from the truth. It is the number one cause of acquired
blindness, and if it's not treated properly then it can be
potentially life-threatening."
Stuart Price, chairman of Dudley and District Business Club,
said: "This lively group, with 87 members supporting and sharing
expertise, is expanding due to a growing group of visitors. Our
members were concerned to help those with diabetes in Dudley and
Stourbridge, and it is great to launch this support for the local
diabetes group."
The club also helped members beat the recession with new
business through a Speed Networking night on Tuesday (17), and is
enjoying an influx of new members.
Business owners are invited to the club's next event, a
Christmas Party, on Friday 4th December at the Copthorne Hotel,
Merry Hill at 7:00pm.
Members range from those who are sole traders to businesses with
100 people, and include contract cleaners, accountants, engineers
and electricians.
The club also helps those starting in business. Membership
offers them invaluable advice from people who have successfully
steered their way to developing their businesses.
Meetings include subjects such as how to best negotiate and
close deals on new business. The club, membership just £25 a
year, meets the third Tuesday of each month, over a hot supper, for
networking. A small charge is made, and booking is essential via
www.ddbc.co.uk