JLR Challenge 2025 – Supporting Diabetes UK

Along with 5 other colleagues and team mates at Jaguar Land Rover, I am taking on the JLR Challenge 2025 over the weekend of 26th–28th September. This will involve map reading, navigation, problem solving skills, 12+ miles of walking along with perseverance, overall strategic thinking & two nights camping.

We are doing this to raise both awareness and funds for Diabetes UK. Any donations, no matter the size, would mean the world and help support this incredible charity.

While insulin was discovered in 1921 & has been a life-saving treatment for those with Type 1 Diabetes and technology has come a long way in the past 100 years, ongoing research is still absolutely essential. We continue to hope that one day, a cure will be found.

In 2023/24 there were 71 million items prescribed for people with diabetes in England. This is an increase of 21 million prescription items since 2015/16.

Around 8% of people with a Diabetes diagnosis have Type 1 diabetes with around 90% having a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes, the 2% have a diagnosis of a rarer diabetes.

Matt is one of the members of the team and this is his personal story:

Matt’s daughter Sophie was taken to hospital at just 19 months old, where it was quickly confirmed she was in Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA), a life-threatening condition.

She was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes and became insulin-dependent, making her the second youngest diagnosis in Warwickshire at the time & one of only 140 children in the care of South Warwickshire Diabetes Team, at Warwick Hospital.

Life hasn’t been the same since. With no cure for Type 1 Diabetes, this is a condition Sophie will have to manage for the rest of her life.

Sophie now wears a Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM), which must be replaced every 10 days. Alongside this, we still rely on finger prick blood tests to monitor her levels day and night. Every meal, snack, or drink she consumes must be carefully assessed for sugar and carbohydrate content. We calculate her insulin dose accordingly, along with administering correction insulin or dextrose when her levels are too high or too low.

We are fortunate that Sophie has access to a closed-loop insulin pump, which is replaced every 3 days. However, she still requires close monitoring for hypoglycaemic episodes (lows), which, if untreated, can lead to seizures or unconsciousness.

Her next big challenge will be starting Primary School this September.

Diabetes UK is a fantastic charity that provides invaluable support, guidance, and funds critical research.

Thank you so much for any support you are able to give us!