BUSINESSES across the south coast are joining forces to help find a cure for diabetes.

About 80 bosses from 50 local companies attended a breakfast, which was held at the Hampshire Rose Bowl in support of medical research charity Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).

The get-together marked the official launch of the charity's Walk to Cure Diabetes 2005, chaired this year by ITV Meridian managing director Lindsay Charlton.

Meridian presenters Fred Dinenage and Debbie Thrower were on hand to welcome managers from dozens of south coast firms, including Ford Motor Company, CLC Group, Grant Thornton and LeepeckGreenfield Ltd.

Guests listened to presentations by Richard Lane OBE and Kim Evans, 16, who gave personal accounts of living with diabetes.

Richard is a recent recipient of a revolutionary procedure which transplants insulin producing islets from the pancreases of deceased donors into a person with diabetes.

Kim, whose twin brother is also diabetic, spoke about the improvements a new insulin pump has made to her life and how she was looking forward to the future and towards finding a cure for her diabetes.

Mr Charlton revealed the ambitious goal for this year's walk was to raise £100,000.

He said he had already received sponsorship commitments from Ford Motor Company, the Southern Daily Echo and Hampshire Chronicle, ABP Connect Cargo Flow, Glen Dimplex UK Ltd, Hendy Ford, Intier Automotive Seating and Southampton City Council.

Mr Charlton also announced that ITV Meridian would be sponsoring £5,000 towards the event.

Jayne Ashley, JDRF regional development manager, said: "It is absolutely wonderful to see so many companies wanting to get involved.

"We are optimistic that with the support of so many local companies this will be our most successful year to date."

All proceeds from the walk will help JDRF find a cure for type one or juvenile diabetes, which currently affects about 350,000 people in the UK and is diagnosed primarily in children.

For more information about JDRF or taking part in the Walk to Cure Diabetes telephone 023 8058 6269 or visit www.jdrf.org.uk