Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

Hi, I'm Hannah, and this is my story. In August 2008 I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, just two months before my 18th birthday. I am now 31. Type 1 Diabetes is an autoimmune condition, where the body's immune system attacks and destroys the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is vital in order to live. Living with Type 1 means that every single day I have 6 insulin injections and have to constantly monitor my blood glucose levels. If my glucose levels drop too low, I feel shaky, sweaty, confused, irritable and have even lost consciousness. If my glucose levels run high over a prolonged period, or if I have poor glucose control, I am at high risk of permanent damage to my body, including my kidneys, eyes, nerves and cardiovascular system.

I have never let my diagnosis stop me from doing anything in life. In fact, I have, and still do, regularly use it as a reason to do as much as possible in life. When I was 21, I discovered weight training and the gym, and it soon became apparent that exercise and being active was the KEY for optimal diabetes management. Exercise has been an integral part of my life since I was 21 and without it, my mental and physical health would have suffered greatly.

At the age of 26, in November 2016, I was involved in a serious car accident while travelling with my friends in Australia. There were 5 of us in the car, and only four of us were lucky enough to survive. I was knocked unconscious on impact. Among various other injuries, I broke both of my legs and suffered a complete rupture to my left PCL. I could no longer walk. I could no longer care for myself. I had completely lost my independence. I had 8 weeks of intensive physiotherapy and hydrotherapy as an inpatient in a rehab hospital in Perth, Western Australia. I then had surgery on my left leg; a complete PCL reconstruction and a tibial osteotomy. 

At the end of April 2017, after 6 months in a wheelchair and walking with two crutches, I finally walked without aids.

I was told I would probably never be able to run again.

However, I told myself I would run again.

So here I am, five years after being told I would never run again, throwing myself at this challenge and aiming to prove that having Type 1 Diabetes does not stop you from doing anything! Exercise not only helps me to manage my diabetes excellently, it also keeps me sane. I am so grateful to be able to walk. I am so grateful to be able to run. And I am so grateful to be fundraising for a charity that works so hard to raise awareness of all types of diabetes, to provide information and support to promote good self-management and to enhance quality of life, and to ultimately help find a cure.

I would be ever so grateful if you could help me support this amazing charity. Each and every donation will make the training sessions, the steps and the miles just that much more worth it. 

Please click 'view gallery' at the top of the page to view photos of my recovery.

Thank you, Hannah.