In July, I will be heading over to the Alps to take part in the Action for Diabetics cycling challenge of the year. This time, the A4D team and I will be taking on a 6 day, 650km, 10 000m ascent ride from Bormio in North East Italy to Lake Como in the West, and will be pushing ourselves up and over some the Giro D'Italia's toughest 'Passos' (mountain passes).
Although Type 1 diabetes cannot be cured, the treatment is available in more developed Countries allowing sufferers to live a full and active life. However, if left untreated, Type 1 diabetes is hugely debilitating and eventually fatal to kids who develop the condition early on in their lives. Unfortunately, children in underdeveloped regions of SE Asia (including parts of Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand) simply do not have access to the healthcare and education they need to survive this manageable condition.
By providing education for kids and their families through 'Diabetes Camps' and treatment through sustainable supplies, A4D has already enrolled 125 kids with Type 1 Diabetes onto their programmes, and continue to work tirelessly in an effort alleviate the suffering of more children and their families.
I am grateful for any contribution you can make.