I am running  London landmarks half marathon, Loch Ness full marathon, St Illtyd's 50k (31miles) ultramarathon and Race to the Stones 100k ultramarathon (62 miles) to raise funds for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Like many people I didn't understand type 1 diabetes and then I met my friend Bethan and her daughter Malaika who both have type 1. Type 1 is very different from the more commonly known type 2, It is a chronic lifelong illness with no links to lifestyle and nothing can be done to prevent it. Malaika permanently wears a device to deliver insulin and has to undergo blood checks every 2/3 hours to monitor glucose levels. Her life and her mother's is a constant balancing act to avoid life threatening situations of high and low blood sugar levels.

There are many health implications such as heart disease, stroke, nerve damage, kidney disease, eye retina failure, amputation and death. I will never forget Bethan telling me of the very real fear that Malaika could die in her sleep and I can't imagine how hard it must be to deal with this every single day. She and all other children and their families affected are the reason I'm supporting JDRF.

I hope you'll be able to support me in raising funds for Juvenile Diabetes Research as help is most desperately needed.