The first time I heard about diabetes was in 1984, my first term at boarding school. Matt Logan played in the same football team as me and it transpired that he had Type 1 diabetes. I didn't really understand the implications until he failed to come back for the summer term. He had died in the holidays.

I hadn't really thought about it much since school, but that changed on 20th May 2022 when my son, Milo, was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes.

Fortunately, there have been massive advances made since 1984 to help monitor blood/sugar levels but Milo still has to check his levels and inject insulin several times a day. He is also aware that Serena and I, as well as his house master, are monitoring him, which is probably not ideal for a 15 year old boy.

Frankly, we have been "lucky". It is amazing how many children now seem to be developing Type 1 Diabetes (apparently it might be a side-effect of Covid or the vaccine but who knows (type 2 Diabetes is the one often caused by a bad lifestyle)) and many families have had a far rougher time than we have had.

The good news is that JDRF (the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) is doing incredible things to beat this disease which is ruining so many lives. But money is the key to fund the medical and technical geniuses who are doing truly amazing things.

In short, I don't want Milo or anyone else to be another Matt Logan. Consequently, I am going to drag my tired old body around the London Marathon.

Any money you can give will be amazing. No sum is too small or, indeed, too big!! So, please donate as much as you can, because Type 1 Diabetes can be beaten.

Thank you so much.

Jez, Serena, Milo and Flora