On Sunday April 12th I will be running the Landmarks Half Marathon in aid of Type 1 Diabetes.

As many of you know in 2015 Mum was diagnosed with Addison’s disease, a rare autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the adrenal glands meaning they cannot produce sufficient amounts of the vital hormones cortisol and aldosterone. Fortunately, with the right medical support Mum has been able to manage her Addison’s.

However, as we have learnt over the past year, autoimmune diseases can cluster. Having one autoimmune condition increases the risk of developing another, because the immune system is already prone to mistakenly attacking the body’s own healthy tissues.

In February last year Mum became increasingly unwell and following a long week in hospital was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. This time, the immune system attacked the insulin-producing cells in her pancreas. Mum has therefore spent the last year adjusting to new medication and daily injections to control her blood sugar, on top of her pre-existing medication to manage her Addison’s disease.

It has not been an easy adjustment and as a family we are so incredibly proud of the strength and resilience Mum has shown throughout her diagnoses. By running this half marathon I want to help raise awareness of autoimmune diseases as well as support research and care for people living with Type 1 diabetes and other autoimmune conditions.

Any donation, big or small, would mean the world and would make a huge difference helping Diabetes Uk with the amazing work and support they provide. Thank you so much for your generosity and encouragement, it really does make a difference.