Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

I’m conscious that some of you kindly sponsored me back in 2017 when I “ran” the Brighton Marathon raising money for Breast Cancer Care. This was following my wife’s diagnosis of breast cancer in 2016.

At the time, you were incredibly generous, and we were greatly moved. Of course, cancer touches so many families and that breast cancer is frighteningly common.

So, why the new JustGiving page? Well, a couple of things, when I ran the marathon in 2017, I was carrying an injury and it was an incredibly hot day. Consequently, I crossed the line in 5 hours and 16 minutes and I have always wanted to have another bash at some point and achieve that magic 4:59:59 or lower time. (Having read Chris Evan’s “Call the Midlife” about needing a sub 5 hour time. Thanks Chris…)

Then as “luck” (not of the good type) would have it, I was given another excuse. Back in September 2021 I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, and I wanted to try and run another marathon for Diabetes UK, but with the added challenge of maintaining my sugar levels and not going from hyper to hypo.

Now, not only will training be an additional challenge (6 years older, body not working as well as it was in 2017 etc) but the fund raising itself will also be more challenging as indicated by one member of my family when advised of my diagnosis, merely retorted, “well that’s because you ate and drank too much in the City...” To be fair I enjoyed (and still do enjoy) the more pleasurable aspects of City work and I would like to think the comment was more out of ignorance than malice, but it does perhaps give an insight into how diabetes is perceived.

Also, when I watched a bit of this year’s London Marathon, I found myself quite emotional hearing some of the fund-raising stories and in all honesty, I am sure, pre my own diagnosis, my own donations would be heading in other directions before coming my way; some of the stories involving terminally ill children were truly heart-breaking.

Of course, diabetes does affect children and especially Type 1.

Anyway, I don’t want this to become all about the merits of any particular charity – I’m just aware of my own perception and reaction I have already encountered. If nothing else, I am hoping family and friends will at least be more aware of the disease.

So, on a more positive note, every penny raised goes towards Diabetes UK’s care and support services, advice and guidance, and pioneering research helping to changing the world for people with diabetes. Obviously, my own focus has been Type 1 and I have taken the liberty of lifting some information from Diabetes UK website:

Is type 1 diabetes serious?

About 8% of people with diabetes in the UK have type 1 diabetes. It’s a serious and lifelong condition. 

Over time, high blood sugar levels can damage your heart, eyes, feet and kidneys. These are known as the complications of diabetes.

Certainly, when I was diagnosed, I became a lot more aware that diabetes sufferers were more vulnerable to develop a serious illness if coupled with covid for example.

But hey, enough of this misery talk. With help from the NHS, Diabetes UK and applying some self-discipline, I still hope to bat on for some time yet!

Thank you.

Big love

Bill(y)

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