Ellen Bradburn, from Dawlish, who gives so much time to the children's diabetes charity group Snack pack, has won a regional award for her efforts.

Last month she became the regional winner of the Nationwide Voluntary Endeavour Award and received £500 for the charity.

She will now go on to the national heat of the awards, which will take place at Lord's cricket ground in September. If she wins she'll get £2500 for the charity.

She has been chairman of Snack Pack for more than five years and became involved with the charity when her son, Bari, was diagnosed with diabetes six years ago.

'Snack Pack is a group for children with diabetes, and is also for their parents and family as well. We want the children to have fun and we also want to be there for them if the family or children need someone to talk to,' she said.

'It is really helpful to have someone to chat to who is in the same position as you. We phone the parents of the child a few days after diagnosis and tell them about the group, what they are likely to go through emotionally and what to expect.

'Lots of people go through a grieving process as they are losing one child and gaining another.'

She added: 'It takes people a long time to adjust. Children seem very adaptable, more so than their parents. Very often we can spend hours on the phone talking to parents about the illness – we don't mind. we'll talk to them night or day.'

Mrs bradburn works hard to ensure the charity runs smoothly, and now has more than 160 children registered.

Any child from around the country with the illness can become a member. There are many members in Exeter, where Snack pack first started.

Apart from the emotional help Mrs Bradburn and her team provide, she also organises trips for the children to go on.

'We try to put an event together every two months. Sometimes we'll all go swimming. we have hired a cinema in the past when Harry Potter was released and our most recent day out was at Crealy Adventure Park. Our big weekend event was at Barton Hall, which went brilliantly well.

'The children can mix with other people with the illness and form new friends. At Crealy, two girls of the same age with diabetes met and held hands all day. it was really nice to see.'

Mrs Bradburn said parents regularly phoned for advice about the illness, and on what their child can and can't eat when they are diagnosed. She also said that although people knew about diabetes, she felt that they didn't know enough.

'Parents call us up and ask what are good snacks, and ask us what food to take if they are going out for the day,' she said.

'Younger people, under 40, get type 1 diabetes, where they have to inject themselves with insulin. It is not very straightforward as there are a number of different regimes. Type 2 is controlled by diet and or medication, and sometimes they can have insulin injections as well.'

She said that people don't know enough about the symptoms or what to look out for.

'People aren't aware of symptoms. Those with diabetes drink and urinate a lot. They also have a rather distinct smell on their breath like pear drops. They may also lose weight and feel lethargic.

'If a child is left too long without recognising what is wrong with them, they may go into a coma. This is often when they are taken to hospital and first diagnosed.'

Mrs Bradburn spends much time writing to people to try to get donations, and writing newsletters for the group. She also organises all the events that the charity goes on; however, she says she still enjoys volunteering but finds time for hobbies.

'I think this charity will be part of my life forever now. I really don't mind doing it, and I really enjoy it.

'I still have time for my husband, my son, the cinema and reading, so I can't say it takes up all my time, because it doesn't,' she said.

Mrs Bradburn finds out if she has won the Nationwide National Award for Voluntary Endeavour on September 3.

To find out more about Snack Pack, call 01626 863183 or visit http://www.snackpack.org.uk">www.snackpack.org.uk.