An eight-year-old boy with Type 1 diabetes, who has been struggling to cope since his diagnosis, took to the road on Saturday to complete a sponsored walk to raise money for research into the condition.

The Comet: Callum Gibson and his mum Katie walked five miles in the freezing cold to raise money for a children's diabetes charity. Picture: Katie Gibson.Callum Gibson and his mum Katie walked five miles in the freezing cold to raise money for a children's diabetes charity. Picture: Katie Gibson. (Image: Archant)

Callum Gibson, a pupil at Woolenwick Junior School in Stevenage, was diagnosed with diabetes when he was just three years old.

His mum, Katie, said: “Callum was diagnosed in 2013 and it came as a shock to us all.

“He became poorly so quickly and we knew something just wasn’t right, so we phoned 111. Before we knew it, an ambulance and paramedic car arrived and Callum was rushed to hospital.

“After lots of test we were given the news that our son has Type 1 diabetes and was very poorly.

“Callum’s pancreas no longer works and no longer produces insulin, so instead we have to test his blood sugars and inject him with the right dose of insulin countless times a day.

“Over time, Callum has seen that he’s different from others. This has knocked his confidence, even though we tell him how special he is and how proud we are. He wants nothing but to be a normal eight-year-old.”

Callum, who loves football and superheroes, decided he wanted to raise awareness of Type 1 diabetes in children, and raise money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, by taking part in a five-mile walk.

On Saturday, together with his mum, he set out from Gunnels Wood Road and walked through Graveley before heading back into Stevenage.

Katie said: “It went really well. It was really hard for Callum, but there was a lot of support for him in the Old Town and it has helped him with his confidence.”

Callum has so far raised £230.65, with more donations still to come in and a raffle being held on March 24 in a bid to reach his £500 target.

You can still support the cause by making a donation at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/katie-gibson12.

Katie said: “Please donate whatever you can and show Callum that what he’s done is amazing.”

If you would like to donate a raffle prize, email katiegibson1991@icloud.com.

For more about the foundation, which funds research to improve lives and hopefully one day eradicate the condition, visit www.jdrf.org.uk.