Donna, Ali, Sally and Louisa's page
Donna Galbraith is raising money for Breakthrough T1D
Participants: Donna Galbraith, Alexandra Seaman, Sally Hews, Louisa Hogarty
Story
This challenge across the South Downs is described as 'not for the faint hearted'. I only read this after signing up for a walk with a champagne finish. At the time, I was on my 2nd glass of wine thinking about my tremendously brave six year old daughter Emma who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes just before her fourth birthday.
Joining me on this challenge is: Ali Seaman, my brother's wife (and Emma's auntie) and Sally Hews whose daughter is in Emma's class. Sally also has Type 1 diabetes and knows too well the challenges of managing the condition.
My sister-in-law Lesley was due to join us but had to pull out due to patellar tendinitis. My good friend Louisa Hogarty is taking her place. I met Louisa through the NCT when I was pregnant with Emma and she was expecting her first son Jamie. There are three days between them.
Emma has a punishing regime of blood tests and injections (at least four a day), and for us, there's relentless worry and analysis of everything she eats and everything she does. I long to take it away from her, but there is no cure.
This cure could become a reality in our lifetime, or at least things could be made easier for Emma and other people with Type 1 diabetes, through research and support from JDRF.
If we don't manage it well, diabetes can be fatal and long-term highs can cause immeasurable damage to health. Diabetes is a leading cause for amputations in the UK, and for loss of vision. I don't want to dwell on this because it's too harrowing, and we do our best. In fact Emma has a full and fabulous life through hard work on our part, and careful attention from her wonderful teachers.
So we are walking 26.2 miles over rough terrain, (in my case I'm not particularly fit). We are doing this for Emma and other people with Type 1 diabetes, a complex medical condition developed through sheer bad luck. We are walking to help this cure become a reality.
Our team name is Baffled Bunnies - Emma's favourite animal. We are also a little baffled that we are somehow walking such a long distance!
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