Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

On the 14 June 2013 I am starting a 3 day challenge to cycle from London to Paris in support of JDRF, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.  At the age of 3 my eldest daughter was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.  Unlike type 2 diabetes which is the result of a unhealthy lifestyle and diet, this is an autoimmune disease where the body’s immune system attacks the pancreas as it would an infection, this not only leaves the pancreas unable to produce insulin it also means that a cure cannot easily be found as the body continues to attack any insulin producing cells.  With this in mind JDRF are funding research into a cure for type 1 diabetes that would block the immune system.  My daughter, Bethany, has lived with this condition for 7 years and does not know the joy of living without a life threatening disease.

In a pledge to my daughter to do everything I possibly can to remove the constant finger prick blood tests, risk of hypos and hypers which can lead to diabetic coma and even death, use of insulin and the constant thought of how do I lead a normal life for example going to friends for tea I am joining the JDRF team in this    mile cycle challenge to raise the profile of JDRF and the desperately needed money to fund finding a cure not only for my daughter but  for the thousands of children who are forced to live with type 1 diabetes and all the worries and medical complications that go with it.

JDRF is a relatively unknown charity but the work they do is paramount in helping children with this life threatening condition.  For example they helped fund the research into insulin pumps which not only maintains the blood sugars at a more controllable level resulting in, to mention a few, a lower risk of heart disease, blindness, limb amputation and death but also allows the child to  live their life without multiple daily injections as the insulin is continually administered.

I understand that this is a difficult economic time for everyone but ask for your help of any level to raise valuable funds that will make such a big difference to children throughout the world and give these children like my daughter the chance of living their life without injections, finger pricks, pumps, glucose, hypos, hypers, constant hospital appointments and the risk of medical complications

Many thanks

Sarah & Bethany

(note about donating) 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 and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.