‘Why waste your summer when you can save lives?’

8:16pm Wednesday 27th August 2008

MOST 12-year-old girls spend their summer holidays watching the X-Factor, texting friends and straightening their hair.

But two youngsters from Westhoughton — Amy Caldwell and Jessica Pilkington — have decided to put their spare time to better use by organising a fundraising event in aid of Diabetes UK.

Amy’s mum, Jayne, aged 37, was diagnosed with the disease when she was just 12.

And her grandfather, James, aged 64, was recently diagnosed with type two diabetes.

Amy, of Collingwood Way, Westhoughton, said: “My mum has to have insulin every day so I often help her by giving her the injections.

“If she doesn’t get her injections she goes hypo — her blood sugars go really low.

“I’ve always known mum had diabetes, but lots of people don’t really know about it. So we decided to do this to try to raise awareness of the disease.”

The Canon Slade School pupils, who have been friends since they were 12 months old, will be selling handmade bookmarks and blessings at the event, which will be held on Saturday at St Bartholomew’s Parish Church in Market Street, Westhoughton. There will also be a raffle and tombola, as well as refreshments.

Amy and her friend Jessica, of Redwood, Westhoughton, will also be handing out leaflets from Diabetes UK.

Mrs Collingwood said: “I’m really proud of both the girls. They decided to do something different, which I think is great. They genuinely care about other people.”

The Mayor of Westhoughton, Cllr David Chadwick, and the mayoress, his daughter, Victoria, will be attending.

Cllr Chadwick said: “I think what these girls are doing is excellent.”