Charity award for Barbara Mottley who raised over £6,000 for Diabetes UK in memory of her husband

Barbara Mottley with her dog before heading off on one of the walks

Barbara Mottley, from Newhey, has won a volunteering award from Diabetes UK.

Barbara, 58, won the fundraising award at the charity’s regional Inspire Awards, which took place in the Village Urban Resort in Warrington on Saturday 7 February.

The award recognises individuals who give up their time to raise vital funds for Diabetes UK each year and celebrates an incredible fundraising achievement.

Barbara lost her husband Charlie to cancer, when he was just 58 years old. But for 26 years, Charlie had lived with Type 1 diabetes, and had injections of insulin twice a day. He worked up until the day before he died as an electrician and owner of an electrical wholesale shop in Manchester.

To honour his memory and help others who are living with diabetes, Mrs Mottley organised a fundraising event, ‘Charlie’s walk,’ every year since her husband’s death.

Barbara, who is now studying Dog Psychology with the aim of becoming a professional dog trainer, said: “I am really thrilled to have won. It’s lovely to be recognised but really this award is for all my friends and family who do the walk along with me, who should also take the credit. But even if there was no award, I would still organise the walk because I want to do it and hopefully the money raised helps others who are living with diabetes.”

Stephen Ryan, Head of the North of England at Diabetes UK, said: “We are extremely grateful to Barbara for all her hard work and commitment. It is a tremendous achievement to raise just over £6,000 for Diabetes UK so we would like to say an enormous thank you to her.

“The Inspire Awards are a great opportunity to thank our fantastic volunteers for their dedication, which helps us support people with diabetes. There are 3.2 million people in the UK diagnosed with diabetes, and our dedicated volunteers like Barbara help us support them to manage their condition, as well as reach people at risk of Type 2 diabetes and fund pioneering research. Our volunteers are our army on the ground working hard in their communities. Our much-needed work wouldn’t be possible without their incredible support.”

Diabetes UK has 300 registered volunteers in the North West region, many of which also belong to the charity’s 32 local support groups. To find out more about becoming a volunteer for Diabetes UK or to join a local support group, please email n.westvolunteering@diabetes.org.uk or call 01925 653281.