Staff from Santander International on Prospect Hill, Douglas, participated in a sponsored walk at the weekend to raise money for Diabetes Isle of Man.

The team started at the Quarterbridge car park in Douglas and walked to Peel on Saturday.

They hoped to raise money, awareness and support for the charity.

The charity Diabetes Isle of Man exists to ’help improve the lives of all those impacted by the condition in the Isle of Man.’

Their aim is to ensure that ’everyone receives the best care and treatment of their condition, through improvement of front line care services and offering additional support where possible.’

The team were also hoping to help the charity and the Diabetic Centre at Noble’s Hospital raise money to purchase a piece of ultrasound equipment to add to the services the centre provides.

Ultrasound imaging examinations are increasingly used at point-of-care across medicine.

The advantages of these examinations include speed, ease of use, lack of radiation exposure, as well as dramatic reduction of waiting times and patient journeys.

In terms of diabetes, point-of-care ultrasound imaging can swiftly diagnose fatty liver, to evaluate the anatomy of the pancreas and kidneys

They can also detect the presence of abscesses beneath inflamed skin and/or ulcers, to help diagnose bone infection in diabetic feet.

Therefore, having ready access to this piece of equipment would mean that the diabetes centre could offer a higher standard of endocrine care to Manx residents.

In due course, this may result in case referrals (’health tourism’) from the UK mainland and other regional island nations, which will benefit the local economy.

In addition, having this piece of equipment would facilitate academic work in the centre, which will bring reputational benefits.

Mary McAteer and her colleagues raised money before the walk via sponsorship forms, however if you would like to donate to their cause retrospectively, you can via their Just Giving page.

Mrs McAteer described the walk as going really well.

The team of five managed to do the challenge in around three hours, and when they stopped or a ’well deserved drink’ at the end of their walk at The Creek Inn in Peel, the pub also made a donation to their cause.

In total the team of five raised £831 which will go towards funding the equipment.

They hope their sponsorship ’will offer some support to the Diabetes Isle of Man and the Diabetic Centre at Nobles Hospital.’

You can still donate to support the team’s effort at: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/railwaylinewalk