In 2014 I have set myself a target of raising £1,000 for Diabetes UK.

My cousin Lewis, and his wife Vicki, have an amazing 4 year old daughter - Olivia - who was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in 2012.

Type 1 Diabetes accounts for about 10% of all diabetes sufferers, and is treated by daily insulin injections. Insulin is a hormone which helps the body use glucose in the blood to provide us with energy.

In Type 1 Diabetes the body is unable to produce insulin, so the glucose builds up in the blood stream. This means that the body cannot use the glucose to provide energy, and tries to get it from other sources - such as it's stores of fat and protein - which can cause additional problems, such as unwanted weight loss.

Olivia's young life has therefore become a routine of regular injections to simply allow her to function in way that each of us takes for granted.

Since the age of 2 years old, Olivia has had to have her meals carefully weighed out to allow Lewis and Vicki to monitor the amount of insulin her body will require to break her food down.

Whilst for most of us this would be considered inconvenient, for somebody of Olivia's age it means she cannot enjoy things like birthday parties in the same manner as the rest of her friends.

Whilst everybody else is free to eat and drink as much party food and fizzy pop as they choose, Lewis and Vicki need to ensure that they keep a close eye on Olivia so that they know how to manage her insulin levels.

Recently Olivia was fitted with an insulin pump, which will hopefully make life much easier - and will at least reduce the need for daily injections.

However, Diabetes doesn't just go away and this is something which Olivia will most likely be managing for the rest of her life.

I have watched from afar as Lewis, Vicki and Olivia have overcome these challenges together, and my respect and admiration for all 3 of them is sufficient to inspire me to want to do something as a show of solidarity.

The way in which they have thrown themselves into the "Diabetes Community" says a lot about their strength of character, and is an example to many.

I know they have also had wonderful support from the rest of both families, and this is where I now play my part.

So far I have signed up for the Manchester 10k in May, and also the Great North Run in September.

I also intend to raise money through other means, such as a cake sale, and/or additional fundraising events. I'm also not ruling out further physical challenges (such as a triathlon later in the year).

Unfortunately there is currently no cure for Diabetes.

However Diabetes UK is the leading charity that cares for, connects with and campaigns on behalf of every person in the UK currently affected by Diabetes (the current figure stands 3.8 million people).

They not only fund pioneering research into care, cure and prevention, but they also help people manage their diabetes by providing information, advice and support.

I am very confident that if more people can throw themselves into fundraising in the manner in which I have watched Lewis and Vicki do so, then a break through can be made and little girls like Olivia can finally throw away the needles and insulin pumps!

I'm proud of the way my cousins have tackled Diabetes, and would be very grateful if you could sponsor me and help me to help Olivia continue to help Diabetes UK to help other people with Diabetes!

#teamolivia

If you would like to find out more about diabetes and the ongoing support and research, please visit Diabetes UK's website:

http://www.diabetes.org.uk/