Six-Year-Old Raises More Than &poind;1,800 for Diabetes Research After Sharing Her Story
Sophia Green becomes the UK’s highest fundraiser for Dance for Diabetes, raising £1,804.76 for Diabetes Research & Wellness Foundation
Sophia Green with her prizes from Diabetes Research & Wellness Foundation
Sophia, who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes aged five, was inspired to take part after hearing about Dance for Diabetes through her school. The event has not only raised a remarkable amount for diabetes research and education but has also helped Sophia become more comfortable talking about her diagnosis and living with type 1 diabetes.
Sophia was named DRWF’s highest fundraiser across the UK this year, surpassing the previous highest total raised in 2025.
Tim Green, Head of Community Fundraising at DRWF, said:
“Sophia was our highest fundraiser across the UK this year, raising £1,804.76. She even beat the previous highest total raised in 2025. This is an exceptional effort and something that I am sure her parents will be very proud of.”
As recognition of her achievement, Sophia was presented with an Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Pro tablet, a £100 Smyths Toys voucher, and the charity’s Highest Fundraising Award.
The 2026 Dance for Diabetes is now open for schools to sign up.
Sophia’s diagnosis
Sophia’s type 1 diabetes was diagnosed following a family holiday in Barbados. During the holiday, her parents, Simon and his wife Chantelle, noticed that Sophia was not eating much but was drinking a lot.
Initially, they did not think too much of it, as Sophia generally ate less when the weather was hot. However, after returning home, Sophia continued to drink excessively. Her parents decided to arrange an appointment at their local doctor’s surgery, where they saw an Advanced Clinical Practitioner.
Simon explained:
“She wasn’t a fully qualified GP but was the person who recognised what was happening with Sophia and diagnosed her with type 1 diabetes. It makes that part of Sophia’s story even more remarkable.
“She checked for ketones and did a finger prick test. Both were really high and she sent us straight to the hospital. It all took less than 15 minutes.”
The family chose to take Sophia to Chesterfield Royal Hospital, where she received care from the paediatric diabetes team.
Simon said the family have nothing but praise for the team who cared for Sophia and helped them through the early stages of her diagnosis.
“We learned that Sophia was really lucky to have avoided diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), which is such a serious condition that can happen in people with diabetes. We have a great relationship with her diabetes team and feel very lucky to have them taking care of her.”
DKA occurs when a lack of insulin causes ketones, harmful substances produced when the body breaks down fat, to build up in the blood. It can be life-threatening and requires urgent hospital treatment.
Dance for Diabetes gives Sophia a voice
Before taking part in Dance for Diabetes, Sophia had not spoken to many people about her type 1 diabetes. Hearing about the event through her school gave her an opportunity not only to raise money but also to talk about her experience.
DRWF’s Dance for Diabetes resource has been designed to enable pupils to be physically active without needing to leave the classroom. The resource raises awareness of diabetes, gives children the opportunity to have fun through movement and helps participating schools raise additional, unbudgeted funds. DRWF shares 50% of the funds raised at each participating school with the school.
Sophia’s class teacher Miss Carter was the instigator for the school to take part in Dance for Diabetes and Sophia’s family are very grateful for this opportunity to support Sophia’s type 1 journey.
For Sophia, however, the impact has gone far beyond fundraising.
Simon explained that taking part has helped Sophia come to terms with her diagnosis and make diabetes part of her everyday life.
Her best friend Lola even told her mum that they were “raising funds to keep Sophia alive”.
“Asking for sponsorship allowed Sophia to talk to people and make her diabetes part of her everyday life,” Simon said.
Sophia now wears a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) and an insulin pump, both of which have made a significant difference to managing her diabetes.
Her grandmother Valerie Rohdes and auntie Shaneice Grimsley also play an important role alongside Mum and Dad, with the whole family learning about type 1 diabetes together.
The family’s aim is to help Sophia become as independent as possible while ensuring she has the support she needs.
‘Sophia’s Brave Adventure’
Sophia’s journey has also inspired her to become an author.
During her first 11 months of living with type 1 diabetes, Sophia wrote her own book, Sophia’s Brave Adventure – A Story About Type 1 Diabetes, Strength, and Always Being You.
The book tells Sophia’s story from the beginning of her diagnosis, through the difficult early months, as she learns how to live with type 1 diabetes, grows in confidence and ultimately finds herself in a much better place.
Sophia wrote the story with the help of her mum, dad and grandmother, who helped bring it to life through illustrations and printing.
Simon said:
“It has become something really special to all of us because it is Sophia telling her own story, in her own way, and showing other children that being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes doesn’t mean that you must stop being the person you were before.”
The family are now looking at how they can bring Sophia’s Brave Adventure to more families and help other children who are facing a type 1 diabetes diagnosis.
Sophia’s fundraising achievement is another chapter in that story — turning her own experience of type 1 diabetes into an opportunity to raise awareness, support diabetes research and show other children that a diagnosis does not have to define who they are.
More News From Amber Valley Info
| The National Trust Unveils the Best Seasonal Walks in Derbyshire and the Peak District As the leaves turn and the air grows crisp, the National Trust is inviting everyone to experie read more | |
| Belper Leisure Centre Offers Free Month of Swimming Lessons for Belper Children Free month of swimming lessons for Belper kids from 1 September to get more kids learning to swim read more | |
| Derbyshire County Council Support Care Leavers In To World Of Work Young people leaving care are being supported by Derbyshire County Council to take their first steps into employme read more | |
| An Alfreton pub is to cut the price of all food and drink by 7.5 per cent on Thursday 17 September Waggon and Horses in King Street is supporting Tax Equality Day, aimed at highligh read more | |
| The Sticky Beak Blog Named Leading Hospitality & Travel Review Platform 2026 - UK Derbyshire-based food, hospitality and travel website The Sticky Beak Blog is celebrating after bei read more | |
The Amber Valley Info Noticeboard
| Food waste recycling is coming to Amber Valley From June 2026, Amber Valley Borough Council will introduce weekly food waste recycling across the borough as part of a phased roll-ou read more | |
| Stallholder Bookings Now Open For The Tansley Big Day Out We're excited to announce that Tansley's Big Day Out 2026 will take place on 6th & 7th June 2026! read more | |
| Christmas and New Year bin collection dates Over the festive season, bin collections will operate on revised schedules. Some collections may take place up to two days earlier than u read more | |
| Launch Of WOMBLE MANIA! At the Heights of Abraham, Opened by Marcus Robertson, Son of Wombles author, Elisabeth Beresford, officially launched WOMBLE MANIA! at the Heights of Abraha read more | |
| Belper School and Sixth Form Centre Closed Today Due to a significant water leak, resulting in the water being turned off at school, we unfortunately have to close the school today. read more | |
