By Casey Neill
A Lilydale boy is heading to Canberra to speak up for local diabetics.
The Mail reported in May that Zac Wall was intent on advocating for a cure for Type 1 diabetes.
A diabetic himself, the 12-year-old Edinburgh College student was hoping to represent the electorate of Casey in the Kids in the House program.
Only one child from each electorate is permitted to attend.
His mum, Jeanette Wall, said he’d been successful in his application and would be heading to Canberra in August to visit Parliament House to debate the benefits of research into Type 1 diabetes.
She’s previously said that Zac was passionate about furthering this cause from a young age.
“Zac has been a Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) advocate since he was six and has regularly been a voice for continued funding for research, and clinical research trials, for the cure of Type 1,” she said.
Zac has participated in Kids in the House before, when he was just seven years old.
At that time, back in 2012, Zac and his mum spoke about how hard it was to keep Zac healthy.
He needed about four needles and 12 finger prick tests each day to ensure his blood sugar levels didn’t get too high or too low.
“We live our lives on call because diabetes doesn’t sleep, so you always need to be on the ball,” Jeanette said.
“Managing diabetes is a job in itself for parents and I would be beyond amazingly relieved and grateful if we can get a cure for the kids.
“It would make a world of difference for their lives and it would make a difference for their family as well because diabetes really is like another person in the house.”
