Worcester News, Worcester Sport, Worcester Leisure - From The Worcester News

Concert targets diabetes

From the archive, first published Thursday 2nd Jun 2005.

AROUND three million people in Britain are believed to suffer from diabetes but half of these are blissfully unaware of the condition, which is a major cause of blindness among adults.

With these alarming statistics in mind, a concert is being held on Friday, June 17 to raise awareness of the illness and generate funds for the Diabetes Education and Training Centre at Kidderminster Hospital and the charity, Diabetes UK.

The event, at Gainsborough House Hotel, Bewdley Hill, will feature Sweet Fanny Adams, The Racoons and Shark Attack and coincides with the end of National Diabetes Week.

Shark Attack features Elmer O'Shea on lead guitar, singer, Sally Haines and former Chicken Shack member, Bev Smith, on drums.

Specialist nurse at the diabetes education centre, Lyn Gilbert, whose husband, Bill Gilbert, is bass player for Sweet Fanny Adams and Shark Attack, said she believed the concert would be the first in Worcestershire in aid of a diabetes charity.

She explained the proceeds, which she hoped would hit the £1,000 mark, could be used to buy new equipment for the facility, which is due to relocate to the main building of the hospital from the outskirts of the complex in the future.

One hundred people pass through the centre, which opened two years ago, each week.

"A lot of diseases are quite sudden but, with diabetes, it's just there in the background doing all this damage and we just want people to be aware of it and we thought it would be great to have this gig," said 52-year-old Mrs Gilbert.

She added symptoms of untreated diabetes could include increased thirst, tiredness and weight loss, but explained: "Sometimes, there are no symptoms at all and that's a problem because it can be undetected and cause quite serious damage."

She said the education centre provided advice and help for sufferers but advised anyone worried they might have diabetes to visit their GP.

Some pharmacists will also carry out "on-the-spot checks" for the condition, which can also increase the likelihood of developing heart disease.

Tickets for the concert, which starts at 8pm, can be obtained from the diabetes centre on 01562 512322 or 01562 512324 or Fred Holland on 01562 68649.

They are also available from Bewdley Books and The King and Castle Pub on Comberton Hill, Kidderminster.

l Shark Attack are also playing at the Boars Head Taphouse in Kidderminster on Sunday. For tickets telephone 01562 68776.

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