A mum from Cardiff will be taking on the Cardiff Half Marathon to raise funds for Diabetes UK Cymru after her daughter was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.
Amanda Lyon, 36, said her world was turned upside down when Emily, 5, was diagnosed with the condition in January.
Now she is determined to complete the 13.1-mile challenge on Sunday 7 October to raise awareness of the condition and to fundraise for Diabetes UK Cymru.
Diabetes UK Cymru’s Know Type 1 campaign aims to raise awareness of the symptoms of Type 1 diabetes, encouraging people to look out for the 4 Ts: toilet, thirsty, tired, thinner.
Amanda said: “During the run up to Christmas Emily was very tired and drinking lots of water, but diabetes never crossed my mind. I took her to the doctor in January and thankfully they recognised the symptoms and gave her a finger prick test straight away.
“Emily is already amazing at managing her condition, she finger prick tests herself and is even able to inject herself at school with a teacher’s supervision.
“Emily will have to deal with diabetes every day of her life, so I wanted to give back and dedicate as much of my time to raising awareness of the condition and supporting charities like Diabetes UK Cymru.”
Amanda only started running this year and this will be her first half marathon. Her friends and colleagues will be lining the route to cheer her on, while Emily, elder daughter Ruby and husband Stuart will meet her at the finish line.
Amanda continued, “I only started training from scratch in February and have now progressed up to 10k runs. My family and friends can’t believe how far I’ve come – usually I’m not the most active of people!”
Type 1 diabetes is a lifelong condition that affects around 19,000 adults in Wales. People with the condition don’t produce the hormone insulin, which is responsible for controlling the amount of glucose in the blood. Nobody knows what causes Type 1 diabetes and it isn’t currently preventable. If not managed well, it can lead to devastating complications, including lower limb amputation, kidney failure and stroke.
Joseph Cuff, Fundraising Manager, Diabetes UK Cymru, said:
“People with Type 1 diabetes have to manage their condition every single day and having the support of your friends and family makes a huge difference.
“It’s fantastic that Amanda is taking on this challenge to show her support for Emily and we wish her all the very best for her run. Every penny raised will help us to continue to provide information, advice and support to people living with diabetes in Wales.”
To sponsor Amanda, visit: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-display/showROFundraiserPage?userUrl=AmandaLyon1&pageUrl=1
