In January 2018, my then 18-year-old sister Evie was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes after a period of significant weight loss, fatigue, and sickness. 

Blood sugar levels in a healthy person fluctuate between 4 and 7 mmol per litre. After her diagnosis, Evie was rushed to the hospital and her blood sugar was so high (over 50 mmol/l) that the machine couldn't produce an exact measurement. Doctors informed her that had she not sought help when she did, she would have become unresponsive and fallen into a hyperglycemic coma within 24 hours. 

Evie - being the complete legend she is - has taken life with diabetes in her stride, and is excelling as a student nurse at the University of Bournemouth. However, she is at the beginning of her journey and is constantly encountering new challenges of living with a lifelong autoimmune disease. 

I want to complete the Thames Path Walk to show Evie how proud I am of her, but also to raise money and awareness for Diabetes UK; who fund vital research. But mainly I knew I would be guilt-tripped into doing something selfless like this by my mum at some point, and a half-marathon isn't really "my scene". 

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