This year I have chosen to run the Manchester 10K in support of the local group for local people set up by my good friend Shannon. ' Type Wonders - Supporting People With Type 1 Diabetes In Stockport.'

I am lucky enough not to have diabetes, but I have lived alongside people that do, and I have seen first hand how it affects daily life. You can't switch off from it ever. Imagine having to calculate on every single bit of food you eat, every exercise you do (& that's just touching on the physical side) - it is physically and mentally exhausting and I am in awe of everyone who has to do this on a daily basis. You are the strongest people I know!

Type Wonders is a group which has been formed to support type 1 diabetics in Stockport. Type Wonders initial aim is to connect people by meeting socially to both share experiences & to create a positive movement. Type Wonders aim is to raise funds to give to the NHS for the practical support needed in the borough surrounding diabetic care. In Shannon's words - moneys raised will help fund the following:

When people are diagnosed with type 1 (especially as a child this can be difficult for kids but their parents) when you get diagnosed you just get told your diabetic cya layer & that's it. So we want to create diagnosis packs where it contains details of for example • sick days (what you so when you're poorly and at what point you need to go to a&e) • info for family members, so they know what to do when you're having a hypo • information on yearly appointments you should be going to & when. So when you should get your feet, eyes, bloods done etc • all numbers & links for support groups, diabetic nurses so families dont feel alone. We'd like to raise money to eventually have our own type 1 volunteers. So we'd raise money for the hospital to have a training scheme (nurses training type 1 diabetics on everything that they are allowed to advise patients) • so what would happen is I may go visit someone who is newly diagnosed with type 1 in the hospital to give them support • I may with the patients permission go in their appointment and take notes & after the appointment go for a coffee with them & explain anything they were stuck with. It's like you're grief stricken I can imagine as a parent if you're child gets diagnosed & I don't know if you ever went in an appointment but the amount of info that gets thrown at you is over whelming and obviously the NHS has to have a certain time allotted to get you in & out so I thought that would be amazing.

Please donate even if it's just 50p - Type 1 Wonders are a new group set up by local people for local people and any donation will help!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/502008706951788/ - please join the group to see the amazing things they get up to.

Thankyou for your support once a again (5th year running)!

Emily Xxxxxxx