We are a group of 15, running the Reading Half Marathon in memory of one of the most loved and respected humans any of us have known - Daniel James. The quick version of events is that, on the 8th April - not long after his 20th birthday and following a short ilness - he was tragically and unexpectedly taken from us as a result of his Type 1 diabetes. 

Fundraising as a group shows how loved Dan is by so many of us, but it's also the smartest way to do it - given our many mutual friends, it would be incredibly annoying and unfair if each of us were to hassle the same person for a donation. Together, we can raise a substantial figure that can make a real difference.

Dan represented many things to many people, but one feature that is acknowledged clearly amongst everyone that knew him is that he loved endlessly. Not only that, but he was himself loved enormously – and will be forever. His unerringly positive personality has left a notable gap in all of our lives since his death, and his absence will always be felt – not just by those who were closest to him, but by acquaintances and newer friends as well. With that in mind, I feel it is rather fitting that so many of us have banded together to run this half marathon in aid of JDRF (chosen because of the request of his family that any donations should be made out to this charity). That so many people want to commit to this all in the name of Dan rings true of the person that he was and how loved he remains now.

Whilst we do not have his physical presence with us, it is without any hesitation that I can say he will be running every step of the 13.1 miles with each of us, and I know that we wouldn’t want any other soul by our sides – just as he shall be for the rest of our lives.