I am joining the 400,000 Step Challenge to advance Type 1 Diabetes Research.

Our world turned upside down when our brave 8-year-old warrior, Pablo, was rushed to intensive care two months ago. It was there we discovered he had Type 1 Diabetes, in the midst of a critical diabetic ketoacidosis episode.

Pablo’s diagnosis was a shock to all of us. This shouldn’t be happening, we thought. We are a healthy and active family and he has no family history of Diabetes. Little did we know that T1 Diabetes can affect anyone, at any age, and it has nothing to do with diet or lifestyle. As the nurse said, there is nothing that he or we could have done to prevent it. It’s just bad luck.

That day marked a new beginning for us and, as a family, we have embarked on a life-long journey of constant monitoring of blood sugar levels, carb counting, and multiple daily insulin injections.

Living with Type 1 diabetes is a daily balancing act. We are determined to navigate this journey with hope and resilience—not just for our son, but for everyone affected by this condition.

As a family, we are taking part in The 400,000 Step Challenge to drive progress in Type 1 diabetes research, aiming to improve Pablo's life and the lives of the 400,000 individuals living with this condition in the UK.

Your support can help bring breakthroughs in research that could lead to better treatments, better lives and, ultimately, a cure. We invite you to back our 400,000 Step Challenge for breakthroughs in Type 1 Diabetes.

Your contributions can have a significant impact:

• Every £11 could help a recently diagnosed child feel less alone. They receive a fluffy best friend named Rufus, who also has Type 1 diabetes, along with special felt patches on his test and injection sites to help them practice.

• Every £25 could provide an hour of research nurse support for someone involved in a clinical trial, crucial for advancing potential breakthroughs. Without this support, there would be no trials.

• Every £115 could screen one person for Type 1 diabetes, helping to prevent undiagnosed complications and ultimately saving lives.

Thank you for your support—whatever you can donate is truly appreciated. Together, we can help change lives and work toward a cure for Type 1 diabetes.

Rebeca, Antony, Sofia and Pablo