John and Kathleen Dunn are to celebrate 25 years of marriage this year - but not in the conventional manner.

They have decided to abandon the frivolous fun of a silver wedding party and do some fundraising instead.

The couple, from Riddlesden, Keighley, have set up Diabetes Keighley, a branch of Diabetes UK.

And they are passionate about making it a success because they know all about the impact of the disease on families and want people to know how widespread it is in the community.

Their 20-year-old daughter Sarah, a recruitment canvasser at the Keighley News, has been a diabetic since she was 16. And she shares an office with two other women suffering the illness.

Sales service canvasser Wendy Edgar, 43, of Silsden, has been a sufferer for 28 years. Advertising sales manager Suzanne Godbeer, 35, of Menston, was struck down in 1997.

Mrs Dunn, 45, said: "When Sarah was diagnosed it was a nightmare. We both felt that if we could have taken on the disease for her we would."

Mr Dunn, 49, said: "It was Kathleen's idea to start Diabetes Keighley. Since Sarah was diagnosed we always intended to fundraise."

Sarah needs to inject insulin about six times a day to control her blood sugar levels.

She said: "You have to be so careful, especially when going out and having a drink. And you can get paranoid about eating at the right time."

Major problems struck Mrs Edgar after having her son Adam, who is now 16. She suddenly lost the sight in her right eye. "I was at work typing when I got the sense that a curtain was coming down in front of my eye and my sight was gone," she said. "It was very frightening. Later I got a kidney infection and I had to have a transplant."

Mrs Godbeer was diagnosed after she developed a blemish on her ankle.

Diabetes Keighley's first fundraising event is a Three Peaks walk on Saturday, June 21. Sponsors are being sought. If you can help, e-mail dunny21@btopenworld.com or ring (01535) 600310.

e