Over 100 children and young people living with diabetes will today attend a special Soccer School run by West Ham United’s Youth Academy director Tony Carr, who himself was diagnosed with diabetes in 2005.
Read the post match report.
Information about the Around U Soccer Skills Day
The Around U Soccer Skills Day, run in association with West Ham United Football Club and sponsored by Bayer Diabetes Care and Diabetes.co.uk, will include coaching sessions from Tony and his team, and parents can get the lowdown on diabetes from experts.
Good control will be the theme for the day. It is vital that people with diabetes keep close control of their blood glucose levels to ensure that they remain healthy and can live life to the full. Tony and his team of Youth Academy coaches will be teaching the skills to keep a football under control while parents will have the chance to meet other families living with diabetes – and of course watch their children play!
Tony Carr, Youth Academy director at West Ham United, who has been living with Type 2 diabetes for the past three years, said:
“I hope that, by offering this once in a lifetime opportunity to train and play football in exactly the same way as our elite players, we can show these young people that having diabetes should not be a barrier to living a normal healthy life.“
Tony continues:
“Being healthy and fit, eating the right foods and properly managing your condition means there is no reason to fear diabetes”
The young people attending the event were selected by diabetes specialist nurses from around the area and invited to attend the soccer skills day at West Ham United’s Boleyn Ground, Upton Park. Approximately one in seven school-aged children has diabetes.
David Holyoak, Director of Diabetes.co.uk who are co-sponsoring the event, comments:
“There is a considerable amount of information available on diabetes but sometimes first hand experience and hands on advice can make a big difference for people living with diabetes.
Diabetes.co.uk is proud to co-sponsor this Around U Sports event that allows young footballers with diabetes to enjoy unprecedented access to the facilities at West Ham United and for young people and their parents to receive information about living with diabetes from people who really understand the condition. We’re grateful to Tony Carr, West Ham United and lead sponsor Bayer Diabetes Care for helping to realise this exciting opportunity.”
