Her Royal Highness The Dutchess of Cornwall has extended her Presidency of JDRF, the type 1 diabetes charity.
The Dutchess of Cornwall, who turned 70 on Monday 17 July, first became President in 2012, and will now continue in the role until 2022, helping to raise awareness of type 1 diabetes and increase funding for the charity.
Karen Addington, UK Chief Executive of JDRF, said of the news: “We are delighted and honoured that The Duchess of Cornwall has decided to extend her Presidency of JDRF in the UK. Our efforts to raise awareness of this condition – and of its impact on both adults and children – will be further strengthened.
“In the past five years, more progress has been made towards the cure for type 1 diabetes than in the previous 50. We thank The Duchess for her fantastic support as we work towards finding that cure.”
Over the last five years The Duchess has attended and participated in several events designed to boost JDRF funding. The charity is constantly striving to work to treat, prevent and eventually cure type 1 diabetes.
In 2012 The Duchess met children at the Addenbrooke’s Clinical Research Centre in Cambridge who had been in clinical trials testing an artificial pancreas. That same year Clarence House (where the Dutchess lives with the Prince of Wales) in London was lit up blue to commemorate World Diabetes Day.
She was also a guest of honour at Art Antiques London Party in support of JDRF in 2015, which raised £470,000 for the charity.
Then, in 2016, The Duchess attended the JDRF UK’s 30th anniversary, along with Prime Minister Theresa May, who has type 1 diabetes.
At the event The Duchess said: “I’m hugely encouraged by the news that research on a global scale has driven forward development of an artificial pancreas, with researchers in the UK now testing it in adults and children.
“I know that everyone at JDRF is looking forward in the hope that a cure for this devastating disease will be found in the not too distant future.”
Pictures: JDRF
