A man with Type 1 diabetes has swum 50 miles, the equivalent of swimming the English Channel and back again, to raise vital funds for Diabetes UK Cymru.
Scott Bennett, 31, from Cwmparc, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 1994, aged seven.
He signed up to Swim22, which encourages fundraisers to swim 22 miles, the length of the English Channel. However, he soon set himself an even greater challenge!
"Type 1 diabetes won't beat me"
Scott said, “I decided to set myself a new challenge to show that Type 1 diabetes won’t beat me and to help raise money to beat it instead.
“I initially upped the distance to 44 miles but in the end I rounded it up to 50 miles, double the length of the shipping lane between Dover and Calais.
“I got up at 5am each weekday to swim 1.4km before work. The support of my friends and colleagues was amazing and really helped push me on.”
Scott completed the 50 miles between 22 February and 14 May, spending a total of 34 hours and 40 minutes in the pool. He has so far raised almost £700.
Exercise and Type 1
Physical exercise can impact blood glucose levels, meaning people who have Type 1 diabetes must manage their insulin before, during and after exercise.
Scott continued, “I use an insulin pump and kept a close eye on my levels and how they responded to the increase in exercise, so I could adjust my insulin as required.
“It can be tricky to manage type 1 diabetes and exercise, but I want to show others with the condition that it is achievable and enjoyable! Type 1 diabetes is part of me but it does not define me, nor will it beat me.”
Our Fundraising Manager, Joseph Cuff, said: “Scott has gone above and beyond our Swim22 challenge, completing more than double the distance to help us help us support others living with diabetes across Wales.
“Life with Type 1 diabetes can be complicated, but Scott’s positive attitude and great achievement shows that the condition should not hold anyone back from a full and active life. Thank you, Scott, for really making waves for our charity!”
You can still sponsor Scott here.
Feel inspired? Find out more about how you can fundraise for Diabetes UK Cymru.
