Four years ago my Dad was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. The onset was sudden and severe; two weeks of weight-loss preceded an emergency trip to the hospital. His pancreas had stopped producing insulin correctly, an essential hormone to turn food into energy. Fortunately, the miracle of modern medicine means that Dad can live with this disease, albeit with the major inconvenience of monitoring blood sugar levels and injecting himself with insulin accordingly.

Diabetes UK does important work and I wish to support it by running the Brighton Marathon for two reasons.

First, to raise awareness of the disease. Both my Dad and the nurse he'd seen missed the early warning signs - if more people know and understand diabetes, the more likely it is that people can be treated sooner, before things get critical. Diabetes UK provides helpful education about diabetes in addition to support for those living with it.

Second, to fund life-saving research. Diabetes UK's contribution has helped advance diabetes care, which is so important to reduce the burden of living with the condition, and research can lead us to the ultimate aim - a cure.

More than 5 million people are living with diabetes in the UK right now. Please support my challenge by hitting the donate button on my profile page.