I am a primary school teacher in Nottingham and I participate in various challenges to raise money for charity. I use my challenges to inspire the children and set an example of what can be achieved with the right mindset.

My daughter Esmé was just 4 years old when she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in April 2019. Esmé has to endure a completely different lifestyle now including pump cannula changes every 72 hours, and another injection to change her blood glucose sensor every 10 days. It really is a gruelling regime, but Esmé has taken it all in her stride. Injecting your daughter whilst she is kicking and screaming is enough to drive any person to tears, but these injections are what keep her alive. Because of the strength and resilience Esmé has shown, I decided I wanted to raise money for Diabetes UK and the research they do in trying to find a cure for this awful disease.

People with type 1 diabetes cannot produce insulin and about 8% of people with diabetes have type 1. No one knows exactly what causes it, but it’s not to do with being overweight and it isn’t currently preventable. It’s the most common type of diabetes in children and young adults, starting suddenly and getting worse quickly.

The challenge I will be doing is running from Nottingham to France. I will run to Dover, board the ferry, then run to Dunkirk beach in Northern France. In total it is 288 miles and I anticipate completing it over a week in the February half-term (1 week long) in 2022. This has been a long time coming due to COVID forcing it to be rearranged twice. I am desperate to do this challenge and raise as much money and awareness as I can.

The money raised will support Diabetes UK in their research and support of people with Type 1 diabetes.

Please donate what you can - it will all add up. Thanks so much.

Andy.