A NINE-YEAR-OLD diabetes sufferer was today aiming to swim 5,000m to support efforts to find a cure for his illness.

Plucky James Spencer, of Clifton Moor, York, was planning to complete 100 lengths of the Edmund Wilson Swimming Pool, in Acomb, York, to raise cash for the Diabetes UK charity.

The Clifton Without Junior School pupil was diagnosed with insulin-dependent diabetes two-and-a-half years ago and has to undergo twice daily injections and test his blood sugar level four times a day.

His mother, Joan Spencer-Haley, is joint chairman of York Parent Support Group For Children With Diabetes.

She said: "He was driven by being fed up of doing his injections every day and me nagging him about his blood sugar, and he said, 'I wish there was a cure'.

"James is desperate for a cure because he has a younger brother, George, who does not have diabetes.

"He understands that fundraising to help research into diabetes can help find a cure. One day he just said to the diabetes nurse he was going to do a sponsored swim."

James will have his blood sugar level tested halfway through the swim. If his blood sugar drops too low he could become unconscious in the water.

Mrs Spencer-Haley said: "He has been training for a couple of months, going to the swimming baths on a weekend, getting some lengths in and enjoying the water.

"I am very proud of him. He is quite motivated and, as a parent, I do not want him discriminated against. He has got to have extra attention, but he can do everything another child can do."

James also hopes to raise awareness of the Diabetes UK campaign to improve the standard of services for children with diabetes.

Mrs Spencer-Haley said the support group plans to launch a campaign for a second specialist children's diabetes nurse in the city.

Ian McCoulough, facilities manager at Edmund Wilson Swimming Pool, said: "We are all supportive here, and hopefully he will be able to complete the swim and raise as much money as possible for charity."

James was featured in the Evening Press last year after he wrote to Prime Minister Tony Blair asking for his help to bring the Flying Scotsman locomotive to the city.

Updated: 10:04 Saturday, November 26, 2005