My wonderful friend and colleague Clare was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when she was 9 years old. The charity we have chosen to run for, JDRF, supported her throughout her childhood and still now into adulthood.

Type 1 diabetes affects 400,000 people in the UK and more than 29,000 of them are children. The number of new diagnoses is increasing by about 4% each year. Type 1 diabetes is a life threatening and lifelong autoimmune condition that is caused by a problem with the immune system and not by lifestyle. It is currently unpreventable and there is no cure. JDRF is a global organisation, focused on type 1 diabetes and working towards a cure. They work with academia, industries and governments to make sure their research has the greatest impact on the lives of people with type 1 diabetes now and in the future.

A group of us will be attempting to run the Manchester Half Marathon in May and we would really appreciate if you could donate as it is going to a charity that has done so much for Clare and we would really love to give something back in return.

Thank you!