What should an aging ( 50 in March), unfit, slightly overweight man, with injuries to his knee and ankle, who hates running not take on as a challenge – The London Marathon.

I was diagnosed as an insulin dependent diabetic (Type 1) 21 years ago at the age of 24. This came completely out of the blue. I had always been fit and healthy and 4 years before was playing rugby for Saracens Rugby Football club first XV.

I have always loved playing sport, anything and everything. At one stage I had a place at college to train as a PE teacher but decided medicine and surgery was the vocation I wished to pursue. My diabetes has never prevented me from playing sport but has at times made it slightly more difficult (training for the Marathon being a case in point).

If I had been born with, or developed diabetes at a younger age I am sure it would have had a significant effect on my life and all those activities I have been fortunate enough to have  enjoyed.

Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) funds research to cure, treat and prevent type 1 diabetes. They provide information for children, adults and parents living with the condition, at all stages from diagnosis and beyond.

JDRF is a global organisation working towards finding the cure, and is the world’s leading charitable funder of type 1 diabetes. It has invested £1 billion in funding critical research to cure, treat and prevent type 1 diabetes and its complications.

 

I never enjoyed running, much preferring to chase balls of any size or shape. I have often talked about the physical , mental and time challenge of running a Marathon. There is only one Marathon in me,  if the body holds up this is the one.

 

I hope by raising  money for JDRF I can contribute in a small way to the prevention and treatment of Type 1 diabetes.

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

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