Last July, on what felt like a totally normal day on our way to dance, our world changed forever. Our headstrong, confident little Penelope was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes.

It has taken me a year to process this, and it’s been a difficult journey for all of us. Penelope is still adjusting, and the reality of 24/7 blood sugar management is a constant challenge. I want to take a moment to thank her teachers, friends, and family for their incredible support—from helping with meds and appointments to patiently listening as we navigated this new life. A special thanks goes to Ms. Briggs, Penelope’s teacher last year, and Ponteland Primary School for their ongoing support.

Type 1 Diabetes isn’t caused by lifestyle choices; it’s an autoimmune condition with no cure. It strips children of independence and requires round-the-clock care. Penelope is too young to manage her own meds, which means she needs a trained adult nearby at all times. Nights are particularly hard—between one and four times a week, sometimes more, her blood sugar drops dangerously low, leaving her frightened and unable to take her treatment. Recently, after a long and scary night, our 20-year-old cat helped calm her enough to get her meds in—this moment made me certain: Penelope needs her own medical alert dog.

A medical alert dog will be able to alert Penelope or me to low or high blood sugar before technology can, giving us precious time to act and keep her safe.

We are raising funds for critical start-up costs to make this possible, including purchasing Penelope’s medical alert dog and professional medical alert training with Neat Dogs (£5,000).

If anyone can offer advice or help us find a suitable dog for training, please get in contact.

Our target is £5,500–£6,000 to cover these essential costs. Every donation and share brings us closer to giving Penelope the independence, safety, and confidence she deserves.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

#PawsForPenelope #EveryHeroNeedsASidekick