That is the message from Rob Green (23) of Tolethorpe Close, Oakham, who has overcome diabetes to become a professional rugby player.

Rob was diagnosed with diabetes when he was 10-years-old and had been injecting medication twice a day and controlling what he ate.

He said: "I was in the Leicester Tigers Academy and the training and weights were very demanding. My body couldn't cope with it and I had to stop playing so much."

Then in 2006 Rob heard about the Bayer Diabetes Care DreamFund, which offers people with diabetes the chance to follow their dreams.

Rob said: "I had started to see Dr Gallaghan who has worked with Olympic athletes, and I was on a new regime injecting myself once a day and then whenever I ate.

"It meant I could eat what I wanted and it wouldn't affect my training."

Rob was working at three jobs and playing for Nottingham Rugby Club part time, having done his A-levels at Oakham School, but when he applied for the DreamFund he stated he wanted to use it to further his rugby career.

He said: "I didn't have the time to train full time as I had to work, so I wanted to use the DreamFund to further my career.

"I got into the top three and had to go to London and do a presentation. A few months later I had a call to say I had won £18,000 which has been given to me over two years."

Rob was able to give up his other jobs and concentrate on playing rugby full-time. He played for Nottingham, but has this season been signed to Newbury, who are also in the first division. He said: "I'm looking forward to playing for Newbury. They didn't do too well last season so they have a new team this year and it will be interesting to see how it works out."

Rob is a retained fire-fighter in Oakham, and will spend half the week here while he is on call.

He said: "My girlfriend Christine works in Poole so I will spend half the week with her when I'm training, and the rest of the week in Oakham. The DreamFund helps with the costs of travelling between the two.

"When my rugby career is over I would like to go into fire-fighting full-time, but I wouldn't have had the time to do that without the DreamFund."

The DreamFund is now run annually and it is not too late to apply for it this year. To enter visit www.bayerdiabetes.co.uk/dreamfund to download an entry form, competition details and terms and conditions. Alternatively email dreamfund@trinitypr.co.uk or call (0845) 600 6030 for an application form.