World Diabetes Day Doodle competition winners(l to r) Paige Summers, Abigail Orchard, Alex Anjos, Nakita Saunders, Mathilda Peak, Abigail Leverett and Ella Clarke with Blofield school head teacher Oliver Burwood. Photo by Simon Finlay

Children from local schools have been using their artistic skills to raise awareness of diabetes.

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A ‘Book of Doodles’, which has been compiled from entries from pupils into a county-wide competition, will now be donated to the Jenny Lind Disabetic Clinic at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.

The winners of the competition were showcased at a special event at Blofield Primary School yesterday afternoon, ahead of the ‘Book of Doodles’ being donated later this month.

Over 2,600 drawings were entered and whittled down to 60 for the book, with special prizes given out to those who had been the most inventive.

Head teacher of Blofield Primary Oliver Burwood has type one diabetes so knows of the dangers of the disease all too well.

He said: “I’m really pleased that we can host the presentation of prizes and certificates to the winners of the 2012 Doodle for Diabetes competition.

“The seven age group winners were chosen from 2,634 entries to the competition which really raised the profile of Diabetes
UK and the condition itself amongst children of primary school age.

“Once the album is donated to the Jenny Lind Diabetes Clinic, we hope that children who are being cared for there will be able to see that other children are learning about the condition and thinking about them.”

The competition was designed to raise awareness of diabetes in schools – an increasingly pressing issue in light of recent figures showing the number of people living with diabetes in Norfolk rising to nearly 35,000, with a further 16,000 unaware they have the condition.

Sharon Tillbrook, regional manager of Diabetes UK in the East, said: “The drawing competition was a lovely idea and I’m delighted it’s been such a success in Norwich.

“But most importantly, it has helped raise awareness of diabetes amongst a lot of youngsters in the region, and that is a crucially important part of the work we do, so we say thank you to everyone involved in the initiative.”

Adele Godsmark, school health partnerships adviser for Norfolk Children’s Services, added: “I am delighted that the work to raise awareness about diabetes with children in Norfolk schools got off to such a positive start this year.

“Norfolk Children’s Services has an aspiration that all children in Norfolk will be as healthy and happy as possible and will reach their full potential and this work supports that aim for our children.”

Is your school organising an event? Contact reporter David Freezer on 01603 772418 or david.freezer@archant.co.uk