YOUNG Becky Houghton puts aside her own health problems to help others.

The 11-year-old, of Oban Drive, Shadsworth, Blackburn, has diabetes but still manages to care for her mum, who suffers from a bone-wasting disease in her leg.

And she keeps a close eye on her grandmother, Winnie Preston, also of Shadsworth, who is diabetic, too.

Becky's caring nature and devotion to her family has won her a top prize in the British Diabetic Association's Young Achievers Awards.

Mum Gillian said: "She was diagnosed diabetic in August, 1996, and has to inject herself twice a day.

"She can't eat chocolate when she wants to and has to measure her blood sugar four times a day."

Gillian, 37, has to wear a leg splint and use crutches - and on bad days has to use a wheelchair. Her husband, John, 46, looks after her - with a lot of help from Becky. She said: "Becky is always concerned about me. If I am in a lot of pain she always asks if she can get me anything and makes me cups of tea.

"I can't carry things up and down stairs because I have to hold both handrails so I have to ask Becky and her sisters Sarah, 15, and Emma, 12, to do it.

"She is the kind of child who worries about everybody apart from herself."

Becky, a pupil at Shadsworth Junior School, has won a tee-shirt, blood sugar monitor and £300 in the caring section in the category for 10 to 12 year-olds.

In June she will travel to London with her family to the awards ceremony at Planet Hollywood.

Gillian said: "We are all excited. The kids have been telling all their friends about the trip to London."

She said it would be a special day for the whole family - especially Becky, seen above handing her mum a cup of tea.

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