A FORMER MP turned I’m A Celebrity star will be attending the annual fundraising evening for a Bournemouth charity later this year.

Lembit Opik, who left Parliament and joined ITV’s I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here line-up in 2010, is leading the auction at the Pop4Diabetes fundraiser on October 19, which is being held at the Highcliff Marriott Hotel.

The former MP says that he has long supported the cause of assisting those who live with diabetes. He said: “When I was an MP, I took the matter so seriously that I even bought a machine which tests blood sugar levels.”

He added: “It’s easy to forget how sensitive we all are to diet, and also how far medicine has come in helping those with the condition. I hope in some small way my contribution will help the campaign to give those heading towards diabetes a good chance of a normal life and, over time, of finding a lasting cure.”

Iris Board, event organiser, said: “It is great to have Lembit at our event, after we invited him along, as he said that he would love to help and was really interested in what we do at Pop 4 Diabetes.”

She added: “We’ve had a lot of support from celebrities over the years, and it makes it exciting for the ticket-holders coming along to see who will be there.

“This year is the quickest that the event has sold out, and I just want it to be a real success, with lots of money raised for the charity.”

For more information, go to Pop4diabetes.co.uk