Joanne Foley has laced up her trainers and is running a marathon in a month to raise awareness of Type 1 diabetes.
Joanne, from Cardiff, is taking part in the Run26 challenge, which invites people to push themselves out of their comfort zone by running 26.2 miles throughout October in their own time and at their own pace.
Joanne was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when she was 13.
She said: “I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when I was in high school. My mum noticed that I had lost a lot of weight very quickly, was drinking water all the time and going to the toilet every hour. She took me to my GP, who gave me a finger prick test and diagnosed me on the spot.
“Diabetes won’t stop me”
“I have good days and bad days, and sometimes I wish I didn’t have Type 1 diabetes but I don’t let it stop me from doing anything.
“Diabetes UK Cymru is a charity that is very close to my heart. They offer so much support and advice to people living with the condition, and their research and campaigns have changed lives. Since being diagnosed I have gone from daily injections to wearing an insulin pump which helps me to manage my diabetes better. These steps forward are a direct result of Diabetes UK’s work.”
“Run26 is building my confidence”
Joanne started running this summer and signed up to Run26 after completing the Couch to 5k programme. "I have always hated running so when I told my family that I would be running a marathon in a month they almost fell off their chairs!
“At the beginning of this year I couldn’t even run for a minute and now I can run non-stop for almost half an hour. Run26 is helping me to build my running style and my confidence at a pace that suits me. I have to be a bit more careful with my diabetes management now that I’m exercising more, but I am proof that Type 1 doesn’t have to stop you from achieving your goals.”
You can sponsor Joanne on her JustGiving page.
