Diabetes UK Fundraiser On Trafalgar Square's Fourth Plinth

Main Category: Diabetes
Article Date: 02 Aug 2009 - 0:00 PDT

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Richard Chapman, from Selsdon, near Croydon, stood on Trafalgar Square's Fourth Plinth yesterday from 9pm to 10pm to raise funds and awareness for Diabetes UK.

The Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square, London, is the central part of an art project by Antony Gormley. Called 'One and Other', the project sees a different person, selected randomly from a pool of thousands, stand on the plinth for an hour, every day, 24 hours a day, for 100 days.

Richard, 34, who has had Type 1 diabetes for 20 years, has been gathering sponsorship over the last few weeks for his one-hour plinth stint.

He said: "I have lived with Type 1 diabetes since I was 14 and want to support the great work that Diabetes UK does in funding research projects, providing information and support, and campaigning and lobbying for high quality healthcare for all people with diabetes.

"It was a great feeling to be on the plinth, getting a pigeon's eye view of London's most famous square. I originally set out to raise a fiver for each minute of my hour spent on the plinth, and thanks to people's generosity have exceeded that target.

"Although I'm now back on the ground people can still sponsor me - and every penny will still go to Diabetes UK. I also hope that by going public about my diabetes for an hour on the Fourth Plinth, I've made more people aware of diabetes."

Holly de la Nougeréde, Fundraising Events Coordinator at Diabetes UK, said: "Diabetes UK is delighted that Richard stood on the Fourth Plinth raising vital funds and awareness.

"Diabetes is a serious condition. If not managed effectively, it can lead to long-term complications such as heart disease, kidney failure and blindness. Fundraisers like Richard do a fantastic job in raising money to help Diabetes UK continue our work to improve the lives of people with diabetes."

During his hour on the plinth, Richard raised awareness that one person is diagnosed with diabetes every three minutes by marking a whiteboard.

Richard has a Just Giving site set up, so to sponsor him, visit http://www.justgiving.com/richardontheplinth, until 14 August. Visit our Flickr page to see more pictures of Richard's time on the Plinth.

For more information on the Fourth Plinth art project, and for your chance to stand on the Plinth yourself, visit the One and Other website.

Source
Diabetes UK