INSULIN360

On 20th August 2022 I will start my Insulin360 mountain bike challenge. Seven days of riding, 360 kilometers in length with 17,500m. of elevation. We will attempt to traverse the entire Southern French Alps all on mountain bikes – arguably the most spectacular multi day mountain bike trail in Europe. I will have a strong team of six riders (UK/French/Dutch) including some pro athletes, a UK actor and two riders with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D). Our aim is create awareness about Diabetes and raise funds for Action4Diabetes (A4D). My personal message is that we are defined by what we do, not by the challenges that we face. Our target is to raise €20,000 for A4D.

In South-East Asia, the diagnosis of T1D is a death sentence for the vast majority of young people. But A4D is rapidly changing this situation. A4D is a UK-registered charity giving health and hope to disadvantaged young people living with Type 1 Diabetes in South-East Asia. It is the largest diabetes charity in the whole region covering a land mass of 4.5 million km². The charity has partnered with 27 clinics across seven countries: Myanmar, Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Laos and Vietnam. The charity now supports over 700 young people with T1D with free lifesaving medical supplies and essential equipment. A4D is the only NGO dedicated to tracking, documenting and improving the health outcomes of the children it supports. It also runs educational scholarship programmes, the first online diabetes resource centre in local language, and annual diabetes family camps. It is a big project and requires a lot of support.

The reason for the title "Insulin360" is because not only does it relate to the total distance of my challenge, but also to the message that A4D provides complete all-round support for children with T1D. In addition to insulin, A4D gives young T1D’s education, psychosocial counselling, and peer group support, for them, their family members and their carers. A4D also gives comprehensive training for the health care professionals who work with A4D.

Insulin360 will be one the toughest challenges I have faced. I started training for this challenge in November 2021. Now, at the age of 61, injecting more than six times a day, Insulin360 will push me to my physical limits with more than 2,000m. of climbing over rough alpine terrain every day for a week.

In summary, A4D is changing the face of diabetes healthcare across South-East Asia, and I want to help. Please support me, and by doing so, directly help save innocent lives, and give back hope for a better future.