Hi, 

My name is Richard and I'm running the Birmingham Half Marathon to raise money for Diabetes UK. I'm a full-time community podiatrist which means I take care of the feet of the general public.

My job often sees me caring for the feet of those people unlucky enough to be living with Diabetes. Type 2 diabetes in particular is on the rise. A study published by Diabetes UK states that since 1996 the number of people diagnosed with diabetes rose from 1.4 million to 2.9 million in the UK alone with many others still undiagnosed. They estimate by 2025 that 5 million people or more will have a form of Diabetes.

The concern for many does not compute until they have been diagnosed and these people are often sent on a course to learn about the complications Diabetes can cause.

Foot related complications I see on a regular basis such as diabetic neuropathy where suffers are numb in their feet, or peripheral arterial disease where less blood is getting down to where it needs to be seems to be becoming a more common occurrence. 

Much of the public turns a blind eye to the importance of foot health and often the statistics are brushed under the carpet... in another study by Diabetes UK it was stated "More than 135 people with diabetes will have  a leg,foot or toe amputated each week. This is shocking, especially as four out of five of these amputations are considered preventable. "

Regular check-ups and making the public aware of what warning signs to look for could change all this. I'm raising money for Diabetes UK but I want to gain more from the race is to create awareness within the UK public, I want the UK to sit up and take note that their foot health is important and that people who can help are out there !!

On a final note the take home message here is that prevention is always better than cure !!

If you are able to donate then I can't express the amount of gratitude I have for this, however something that is free for everyone to do is share this page. Share with your family,friends, associates over Facebook, tell a stranger in the street !!! 

I'd like to thank everyone in advance and hopefully you'll see me coming across that finish line with a massive smile on my face on race day.