Lynn Matthews is taking an unusual approach to completing our One Million Steps Challenge this summer.
Lynn, 70, from Senghenydd, was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in 2001. Rather than simply walking her way to one million by 30 September, Lynn is clocking up her steps using her favourite hobby: line dancing.
“It was quite a shock”
Lynn said, “I had to go to the doctor for some routine tests. While I was there, a nurse checked my results and asked me how long I had had diabetes. I told her that I didn’t know I had it.
“It was quite a shock but looking back, once I knew the symptoms, I had been very tired. I had three children and one of my sons is severely disabled, and my daughter had a rare metabolic condition, so I put my tiredness down to looking after them. I also have a number of family members with diabetes.”
“Like everyone I go through phases and some days are tougher than others, but I try to stay positive.”
A new challenge
While Lynn was already very active, she hoped a new challenge would give her a bit more motivation and thought One Million Steps would be perfect.
She was delighted to discover that the steps she clocked up in her regular line dancing classes all counted towards her total!
Lynn, pictured here with some of her fellow dancers, continued, “I have been line dancing for 23 years. I am a member of three different classes and attend regular social nights including Loud and Proud Line Dance Social in Bedwas, Lazy R’s Country and Western in Ystrad Mynach and Bandolero Country Music in Hirwaun. I can reach as many as 6,000 steps in one evening!”
“Having a goal to reach each day really spurs me on. I’ve already reached 800,000 steps and raised more than £500.”
We’re so grateful to Lynn for taking on this year’s Challenge in such a fun and creative way!
If you want to challenge yourself, it's not too late to step up. You can walk it, jog it or, like Lynn, dance it! The money you raise while you do it will fund our fight for a world where diabetes can do no harm.
