Teenager Lee Uses All His Experience
Posted on: Saturday, 20 May 2006, 06:02 CDT
By Guy Basnett
Teenage diabetes sufferer Lee Tubman showed a company what he could do on work experience when he designed a groundbreaking website for youngsters with the condition.
The 15-year-old, of Boldon Colliery, South Tyneside, completed the ambitious project while on a two-week placement with graphic and digital design firm Urban River Creative.
The site ( www.hypohypa.com ( is thought to be the first internet forum and resource centre for youngsters suffering from the disorder.
It will provide a forum for teenagers to meet, as well as a wealth of information about diabetes and how it can affect young- people's issues, such as drinking, drugs and sex.
Lee, who is studying for his GCSEs at Boldon School, said: "All the other sites dealing with diabetes were really aimed at adults, so we saw there was a gap in the market."
Lee was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes two years ago, which means he needs to inject himself with the hormone insulin around twice a day ( but sometimes up to four times.
He said: "It doesn't really affect me. I try to have a positive outlook and get on with things."
But he said not knowing other sufferers of diabetes was one of the factors inspiring the site. The forum will allow youngsters to talk about their experiences together. It also has a section on celebrities who suffer from the condition, which includes Hollywood actress and Oscar winner Halle Berry and rower Sir Steven Redgrave.
Lee, who is considering a career in website design, has been praised for coming up with ideas to fund the site, including sponsorship from Diabetes charities and the sale of 'hypohypa' merchandise.
Branded wristbands will hopefully fund the site, with all profits going on to charities which tackle diabetes.
Yesterday, Paul Slater, head of new media at Urban River Creative, said they fell on the idea after Lee wrote them a letter.
He said: "It was something he was interested in, and we realised we could do something more. And he completed the whole kit and caboodle ( the colour scheme, the sponsorship ideas, the text, and even putting it onto the website. He had a very clear idea how he wanted it."
(c) 2006 The Journal - Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.
Source: The Journal - Newcastle-upon-Tyne
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