Why I’m running for Leah, and for everyone with type 1.
My girlfriend, Leah, has been living with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) for the past 4 years. I've seen first-hand that T1D is so much more than simply needing insulin. It's something she has to think about every single day, 24/7.
For someone without T1D, things like eating a meal, going to bed, exercising, travelling or simply going about your day are things you don't normally have to think twice about. With T1D, every one of those things can involve checking blood sugar, calculating carbohydrates, managing insulin and constantly making decisions to keep blood glucose levels in a safe range.
Even when everything is done right, blood sugar can still unexpectedly go too high or too low. There are no days off, and there is currently no cure.
That's why I'm running the London Marathon. I want to do something challenging myself to help raise awareness and support research that could make life better for people like Leah and, one day, help find a cure.
Every donation, no matter how big or small, will help me get closer to my fundraising target and support Breakthrough T1D's work. Thank you so much for supporting me and everyone living with Type 1 Diabetes.
Joshua Leatherland