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I developed Type 1 diabetes as I turned 21.  Since then I've made attempts to beat it, ignore it and finally after many years to manage and live with it.  I have never allowed diabetes to get in the way of anything I've wanted to do; work, rest or play.

Health has always been important to me and I've run half marathons, 10Ks, played football and for many years played squash.  Each morning, throughout the year I set off for either Parliament Hill Lido or the Men's pond on Hampstead Heath and swim. The challenge of swimming in water which sometimes drops to 1 degree with ice floating on the surface is huge and takes grit and determination.

Now I've set my mind to cycling from John O'Groats to Lands End to raise money for Diabetes UK.  

I've been a teacher for many years and one of the joys for me was taking on another tutor group at Highbury Fields School. One of my tutees developed Type 1 diabetes during her first week.  After her diabetes was stabilized and she returned to school we talked about how I might help her.  However, over the next 5 years the subject hardly ever came up.  When she left and moved on to 6th Form, she handed me a gift and a letter.  The letter said how reassuring and inspiring I had been for her over the years and the last time we met she was running a 10K.

I'm hoping cycling from John O'Groats to Lands End will inspire other diabetics to take up the challenge to get out and about. 

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