On Sunday 7th September my wife Sherri and I will both be running in the Bupa Great North Run on behalf of the JDRF.

Those of you who know me will probably know that I am and have been a type 1 diabetic since the age of 18 — I'm 47 now. By my very rough calculations that's over 54,000 insulin injections I've given myself since being diagnosed. It would be fantastic, one day, to be able to give my pin-cushion body a rest from the needles! :)

For people with type 1 diabetes, their own body has destroyed the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas — this self-destruction is known as an autoimmune disease.

Quite simply – a person with type 1 diabetes does not produce insulin. In the majority of cases this type of diabetes appears before the patient is 40 years old. That is why this type of diabetes is also known as Juvenile Diabetes or Childhood Diabetes. Type 1 diabetes onset can appear after the age of 40, but it is extremely rare. About 15% of all diabetes patients have type 1.

People with type 1 have to take insulin regularly in order to stay alive. I take mine, via injection before every meal and once before bed.

With that in mind, we're running the Bupa Great North Run in aid of the JDRF — Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation which specialises in research into type 1 diabetes. It's the same type 1 diabetes charity I ran the Virgin Money London Marathon for in April in which I managed to raise over £1,425.

Of course being a type 1 diabetic adds an additional challenge to running a half Marathon; already quite a challenge in itself so please make this challenge doubly-worthwhile and help us raise some funds for our chosen charity, the JDRF by sponsoring our run in the Bupa Great North Run 2014.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity. So it’s the most efficient way to donate – saving time and cutting costs for the charity.