The latest member of our team trying to break a World Record at this year’s JCP Swansea Half Marathon is Taylor Lewis from Cwmbran.
Taylor may be only 17, but will be joining us to try and break the record for the number of people with Type 1 diabetes to complete a half marathon together, on Sunday 23 June.
We set the record last year with a team of 69 runners.
“Life with Type 1 is hard”
Taylor said, “I was showing a few common symptoms, such as needing to go to the loo frequently, but the diagnosis still came as a complete shock. Nobody else in my family has diabetes so there was a lot for us all to take in.
“Life with Type 1 diabetes is hard. I’m lucky in that my school are very supportive, especially around exam time, and I’ve got a great network of friends. But it can be hard at parties or in social situations. If I need to inject insulin or check my blood sugars in front of other people, it can feel alienating.”
Inspiring others
Taylor continued, “I want to raise money for Diabetes UK Cymru but also raise awareness of Type 1 diabetes and how challenging it can be for a young person to deal with. I hope I can inspire others and show that having Type 1 diabetes doesn’t have to restrict you.”
We are delighted to have Taylor on our team and are looking forward to cheering all our runners across the finish line on 23 June.
You can sponsor Taylor here.
Why a world record?
The idea to set a world record came from volunteer Paul Coker. In 2017, Paul celebrated his 40th anniversary of living with Type 1 diabetes by completing 40 half marathons, finishing at the race in Swansea.
Paul is passionate about encouraging others with Type 1 diabetes to enjoy exercise, and that with the right attitude and support, anything is possible.
Join our Type 1 team
We still have guaranteed charity places remaining for the JCP Swansea Half Marathon on Sunday 23 June. Places are open to everyone, but we are especially looking for Type 1 runners.
