Young boy raises over £600 for Diabetes UK in 365 lap of Thatcham street

SEVEN-year-old Leighton Harkness has walked, cycled, and scootered laps of his Thatcham street for Diabetes UK.

He has so far raised a total of £650 after he did 365 laps, one for each day since his diagnosis with type 1 diabetes.

Leighton's laps of Derwent Road took place between Monday, August 23 and Friday, September, 3.

It has been a year since Leighton’s parents, Kymberley and Grant Harkness were told he would need to take insulin injections after being suddenly rushed to the hospital.

Since then Leighton has wanted to give something back and has raised money to buy a diabetes insulin pump for someone else effected by the condition.

Mrs Harkness said: “It went really well. It has been hard for him because it was so hot. We had to do it in little bits.

“I’m super proud of him because he’s so small, it’s just amazing.”

She said that Diabetes UK has now sent him a medal and certificate to congratulate him on his achievement. She said: “He is going to be so excited.”

Leighton didn't know about the medal until after he completed his laps as his mum wanted to keep it as a surprise for him.

Mrs Harkness added: “We have had a lot of neighbours asking what he has been doing. It is to get awareness out.

“It means so much to me, when he was diagnosed I was like a zombie, I have had so much support from Diabetes UK and the NHS, so its anything to give something back.”

She said that Leighton's bright blue Diabetes shirt itself was enough to get people talking.

"Just wearing the diabetes shirt is awareness for it. Anything for people to look at it," she added.

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune response that attacks the cells that produce insulin. The condition can be caused by inherited genetics or environmental elements.

For Leighton’s Just Giving page visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/leightonharkness