Today's run is dedicated to Jane Grove and her partner Tim

Jane is a good friend of my sister, Lucy and she has been very encouraging and supportive with my challenge.  Jane ran in the 10K in Portsmouth in July and will be running in the Great South Run in October for Diabetes UK. Jane told me:

"Tim was diagnosed just a year ago with type 1 at the age of 41 and is still very much up and down with keeping it under control. Luckily he seems most of the time to get it right but it is something we have to think about all the time, heaven only knows how you manage with your son! Even just a change of routine like our holiday has an impact on blood sugar levels! Funny how our holiday brought it home to me how much diabetes can affect daily living."

It is pretty rare to be diagnosed with type 1 at Tim's age and as anyone living with type-1 will tell you, it's a  life-changing diagnosis.  I read a statistic that out of around £50million spent on raising awareness of Diabetes, only £6 million was allocated to type-1.
Jane and Tim are due to be married on New Year's Eve.  I look forward to meeting them at Lucy's wedding next Saturday.

Donate to Jane's fundraising at: http://www.diabeteschallenge.org.uk/challenge/janegrove10milechallenge

In a couple of hours, I'll be shuffling up to the start line of the Tameside 10K for run number 86. 
I am proud to dedicate today's run to Jane and Tim.

Thank you to the Roebucks

I'd like to say a massive thank you to Julia Roebuck's Sister in Law, who arranged a very nice surprise for me when I was passing on Shaw Hall Bank Road on the run this morning.  Julia, who's today's run is dedicated to her son Alex, had asked when I would be passing on that route, so I gave her a rough estimate of around 9:30.

I planned to do the 6.4 mile route from Diglea to Friezland Church and back, taking in Dobcross and Uppermill.

As I passed Friezland Church, I kept my eye out for anyone loitering around the house where Julia had told me her relatives live, but nothing.  I carried on running, however caught sight of the time when I was passing Greenfield train station - I was at least 15 mins early.  I ran down top the top of Chapel Road, then turned back and did another lap back down to the church.  This time I noticed there was now a huge banner tied to the railings outside the house with "WELL DONE TOM" and "RUN 58" emblazoned in huge font.  I also got a wave as I ran past.  To say this gave me a boost is an understatement.  I was grinning from ear to ear, and finished the last 3.5 miles at race pace - a real high.  Thank you Roebucks - I really appreciated that!

I'm so glad I turned back and did the extra lap.  The kindness and support was amazing - and from people I don't know, I've only communicated with Julia, and she picked up on the link to my blog as it had been posted on twitter by another mum who received an earlier dedication.

Today's run - 7.4 miles, dedicated to Alex Roebuck and thanks again to all the Roebucks for your support

Angela's Diabetes Power Website

Angela Allison is mum with 5 children, Claudia aged 10, has Type 1 Diabetes and Coeliacs Disease, Isabella aged 12 has Coeliacs Disease,Darcy aged 6, Felicity aged 4 has egg,strawberry & shellfish allergies and Purdey 2.

Claudia was diagnosed with Type 1 on the 1st May 2008.  Angela set up this group because her friends with Diabetes inspired her.  All members of the group either have Type 1 Diabetes or have a child with Type 1 Diabetes. The group welcome support from anyone who has Diabetes or who cares for someone with Diabetes.  The aim of the group is to raise awarness of Type 1 Diabetes, and is a not for profit organisation working towards charitable status.

It is only through raising awareness of Type 1, that we will educate and gain the understanding of the wider public & the health professionals, through this hopefully we will help people identify the condition at it's early stage.

http://www.diabetespower.org.uk/

Keep up the good work, Angela.

 

Quarter complete

Well, that's a quarter of the challenge completed.  Not that I'm getting carried away or anything, but it's good to reflect on the last few weeks and approach these milestones as pretty good achievements.

After Saturday's run, Colin and Carolyn suggested that I could start to dedicate future runs to those affected by Type-1 Diabetes, to help raise awareness and take the challenge out of the blog every once in a while - they have a point.  That's in essence what the fundraising is all about - raising money for the research and awareness of Type-1, and why the research is so vital, how it affects the children and their families on a day to day basis.  I've contacted Sarah Brown, who has agreed to send me a profile of her son Ryan, who is about to turn 18 - and how they have coped with his diabetes since he was diagnosed, and the trials of getting him fitted with an automatic insulin pump.  Jon from JDRF will also give some thought to how I can profile other Children and Parents to dedicate runs to them as well.

For an idea of what those living with type-1experience, take a look at the scrapbook that the JDRF put together (with contributions from the families) at  www.jdrf1campaign.org.uk

My work-mates continue to be ever-supportive and I'd like to give thanks to Faye, Richard and Charlotte for making the display that keeps everyone in the office updated on how the challenge is progressing.  It also saves me from pestering them by email, truth be told.

The story went into the Saddleworth Independent today - It's a free newspaper that is published on a monthly basis.  I'm very grateful not only for the article but also to use a different picture that shows me with hair and less of a chin.  Lesson 1 - choose an old photo for these things...

I've also had a good response from Rainbow Running, who make a good range of technical running wear, their website is http://www.rainbowrunning.com/ - they are sending on one of their running tops, so big thanks to Michael Naimski for emailing me this evening.  Now I could do with a spare set of road trainers as a back up...

Sunday's run (hot hot hot!) - 7.1 miles

Monday's run  - 6.2 miles

Tuesday's Run - 6.3 miles (run 25)

 

Diabetes Power

I came into contact with Sarah Brown through work.  Sarah works in the Southend Centre and during a week of fundraising a couple of years ago, I noticed someone was raising funds for the JDRF.  I got in touch with Sarah, explained about Jake, and she told me her experience with her son Ryan, who also has type-1 Diabetes and is about to turn 18.

I'm grateful to Sarah who has shared some really useful tips over the months and has also undertaken some great promotion work, raising awareness of type 1 over the Facebook network.  Sarah has sent me details of the group http://www.diabetespower.org.uk/ who are doing a good job of raising awareness, especially around looking for the first signs of ketoacidosis, and 4 case studies of children who were diagnosed with type 1 between the ages of 3 and 15 years of age.

Their website provides good advice, website links and a 24 hour support telephone number.

Thanks to Sarah for sending this on, and for your support over the months - I'll be sure to pop over when i'm next in Southend.

Support comes from unlikely places

Last week, around the same time that I sent out the usual "begging" email to work colleagues and a link to my justgiving page to my facebook friends, I decided to approach major sports manufacturers and retailers as well as a a few small, independent businesses. I thought there would be a better take-up if I requested an item of merchandise rather than to outright as for money donations.  It's a mark of the times then, that the first one to respond, and pledge support should be from a small, family-run business based in a village in Hampshire.

A3 sports is run out of a small store in the centre of Liphook, the village where I grew up and lived for nearly twenty years - and where my Mum and Dad still live.  It was a shot in the dark that I should approach them to help me with my training in support for a plug in any press or media I undertake as the challenge progresses.

Beth Marr from A3 Sports sent me one of the nicest emails, pledging to design some t-shirts for me to wear - I'm most grateful and plan to take her in a bunch of flowers when I am next down visiting my parents at the end of July.  Their website is http://www.a3sports.co.uk/

I've also had a promise of some gear to keep me "cool, dry and warm" during the next couple of months whilst undertaking the runs.  Many Thanks to Helly Hansen, who have broken their "don't normally do this...you must understand the amount of requests we get...etc etc" rule to support me.  A parcel is on it's way to me from their depot in Holland, I'm told...

JJB Sports have said "No", however Mark, from their base in Chorley phoned and told of his experience with type 1 diabetes when his 10 year old son was diagnosed in January this year.  We have agreed to join forces and help each others' fundraising, sharing tips and best practice in managing Type-1 Diabetes.

It's getting interesting...