Did you know someone is diagnosed with either type one or type two diabetes every two minutes? More than 5 million people are living with diabetes in the UK right now!

Hi I’m Matt, I am 31 years old, husband to Keeley and Daddy to a beautiful little girl Kena.

Last year I set myself the incredible challenge of running the Great North Run raising vital funds for Diabetes UK I am incredible proud to say I completed this and raised a total of roughly £1300, but I am not done there! I have been given the amazing opportunity to Run the London Marathon for Diabetes UK and I could not be more excited to step up to the challenge and continue to raise awareness and funds for this incredible charity.

Why Diabetes UK I hear you ask? At the age of 10 my wife was diagnosed with Type One Diabetes and over the past 10, nearly 11 years that I have been with her I have seen her inject numerous injections, prick her fingers for blood sugars, apply insulin pumps, libre sensors and dexcoms to her body. Not to mention the countless low blood sugars, high blood sugars and have been by her side for the scariest times of having DKA. We also spent 9 months on tenter hooks while Keeley carried our amazing daughter, following an extremely strict lifestyle whilst attending numerous appointments to ensure both Keeley and Kena were safe. Even though my wife did a fantastic job, diabetes still effected the final days causing an extremely traumatic birth but we are incredibly lucky that everything worked out.

My wife never gets a day or night off, there is always a machine beeping, Lucozade being drunk, insulin being injected or hospital appointments to attend, I would love to see the day that the news comes in that they finally have a cure for diabetes and I know that every penny raised is a step closer to that day.

I also know that in the meantime all money raised helps diabetics to gain access to new technology that is slowly coming into the NHS that will make lives a lot easier but is still struggling to reach everyone due to funding.

Thank you for reading my story and joining my journey. Thank you to everyone that has supported me up to this point and I hope you will continue to support and encourage me as I face this new challenge. I could not do it without all of you!

Anything from a penny to a pound is much appreciated or a simple share to help spread awareness.

Diabetes is relentless, but together so are we!