45+ 1 ……. 2025 is a milestone for me. It’s been 45 years since I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes as a baby and it’s one year on since my own baby, our eldest daughter, was diagnosed with Type 1 too.

Sad is the first word I would use to describe how I felt when she got diagnosed last year. Blame was the second. And I still have those feelings now, from time to time, but now they are also mingled with pride, love and respect for my brave girl. A girl, or should I say young woman, who has dealt with this unrelenting medical condition with grace, a quiet resilience and a steadfast independence in managing the numerous daily challenges of a life entirely dependent on insulin to keep you alive.

But with the help of the Paediatric Diabetes team at the RVI, Newcastle, we as a family are getting better and stronger together. From the diabetic Dr’s and nurses, the dietitian and the psychologist to all the staff clinical and non clinical, everyone has been fantastic and unwavering in their support and advice. As have our family, friends and teachers at our daughter’s school.

So my daughter is my inspiration and motivation for running this year’s Great North Run in aid of Diabetes UK. I know you all get asked a lot to donate money for sponsorship for so many great causes and especially so at this time of year with the Great North Run, but anything you can spare will make a huge difference to allow the research to continue to one day hopefully find a cure ..maybe not in my lifetime, but I believe it will happen in my daughter’s lifetime.

Thanks for taking the time to read this post and if you see me on the run, please give me a cheer or a wave. Oliver.