On the 8th of September 2024 we will be running the Great North Run as a family to raise funds for Diabetes UK.

As many of you will be aware our twins Elise and Rochelle were both diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at the age of 5 and 6. This completely turned our family's world upside down and changed both of their lives overnight.

Type 1 Diabetes is a chronic autoimmune disease that prevents the pancreas from making insulin, the twins manage their condition through an insulin pump and multiple daily injections. It affects multiple aspects of their life, it's a relentless condition and they never get a day off.

1 in 13 people are now living with diabetes in the UK, that is more people than cancer and dementia combined, 850,000 of those are predicted to be living with type 2 diabetes and don’t even know it. Diabetes is the fastest growing health threat of our time and there is currently no known cure for any type of diabetes.

Diabetes can lead to several complications including preventable blindness, amputation, stroke, and even premature death if not managed or supported accordingly. It costs the NHS £14 billion per year (over £1.5million per hour) or 10% of its budget to deal with the condition.

Diabetes UK are the UK's leading charity aiming for a world where diabetes can do no harm. They care for, connect with and campaign alongside and on behalf of all people affected by and at risk of diabetes. They are diabetes experts providing information, advice, and support to help people with diabetes manage their condition. They are campaigners influencing governments, opinion formers, healthcare professionals and health services to ensure that people with diabetes get the standards of care they deserve. They are the UK’s largest charitable funders of diabetes research and search relentlessly for life-changing breakthroughs that improve diabetes care, treatment, and prevention.

By donating to our fundraising campaign, you will directly contribute to the invaluable work of Diabetes UK to ensure every diabetic receives the care and resources they need. Diabetes can be relentless but donations to Diabetes UK ensures they can continue to fund research and support those affected by and at risk of the condition.

Thank you for visiting our JustGiving page.

Aidan, Rochelle, Elise and Liv

The Featherstones x