On August 18th, 2022 Lily was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. In that moment at A and E her (and our) life changed forever. 

A diagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes means that Lily’s pancreas no longer functions as it should; it does not produce insulin to help the body to convert glucose into energy. It is an autoimmune disease and is not the individual’s fault. It is not caused from too much sugar in a person’s diet. 

Lily wears an insulin pump and a continuous blood monitor. She wears these two devices 24/7 and these two machines help to keep her alive. Lily changes her pump herself every 3 days and the blood monitor every 10 days. It is painful to change the devices with a catheter and needle being inserted to monitor her blood supply. It is a relentless process and one that Lily has to do also if a machine fails. This means carrying spares and changing when is necessary- in the toilets before ballet, on a bench after netball or in a forest in the middle of winter. Lily is brave and resilient. She barely cries and is much stronger than most adults I know. I’m in awe of her and always will be. 

Diabetes has to be controlled day and night, which means manually counting carbs and calculating how much insulin is required to be input for every single piece of food or drink that enters Lily’s body. The impact of activity also impacts her blood sugar and therefore further calculations have to be made for this. Although the technology is massive in reducing long-term health implications, it also comes with high levels of maintenance. To keep Lily safe at night whilst she sleeps, alarms will sound if her blood sugar levels go too high or too low, and this means both us, and Lily, can be up several times a night adjusting insulin levels or issuing glucose tablets. 

Lily often wants a day off from it all, but there is no day off with diabetes. A day off can lead to hospital very quickly. 

Since her diagnosis, Lily has continued with a very active life and lets nothing stand in her way- she was born fierce and diabetes will not defeat her positive attitude to life. 

Lily does not want to live with diabetes and nor does anybody who knows her. We see the arduous impact of this disease on Lily. 

Unfortunately, diabetes is a really underfunded area so finding a cure hasn’t been easy for the researchers and scientists. People in this field are really hopeful, that with increased research funds,  a cure could be possible in Lily’s lifetime. Can you imagine?! This would be incredible. 

I am going to raise money every year by challenging myself to do something which requires commitment and effort, just as Lily’s diabetes requires of her. 

This year, I am training to run a half marathon, with Claudia Marr and Sofia Santarelli, and we need you to help raise more money to find a cure for Lily and everybody else living with Type 1 Diabetes. 

Thank you so much for your donation- it means so much knowing you are thinking of Lily and showing her your support. We love you lots xx xx

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