Inspire Award - Fundraisers of the Year

Both Anwen and Helen were new to cycling, but felt they wanted to inspire their patients at Hywel Dda Health Board and raise awareness and funds for Diabetes UK Cymru. They did a challenging bike ride from Borth to Cardigan in June last year.

57-year old Mark lives outside Chepstow and swims in Wales and the South West in lakes, rivers, seas, wherever and whenever he can.

Beth, 28 from Newborough, Anglesey works in a nursery and was taken by surprise when last summer, her daughter Avangeline, who was two years old at the time was rushed to hospital with DKA.

Anna said: "Cori hadn't been himself for about two weeks, I noticed he was going to the toilet more often than normal, feeling tired and drinking a lot more than usual, to the point of drinking four pints of milk in a day! As parents we didn't know the signs of diabetes.

Eric was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 16 and his mother Janette, who also had the condition died last summer.

Sian, a Digital Content Coordinator at the University of South Wales said: “I have fibromyalgia but was getting even more tired than usual and had constant migraines so I was not really surprised something was wrong. I was still shocked to find out I had type 2 diabetes. I think this is the result of years of abusing my body with food and lack of exercise.

George Watson, 61 is doing the swimming challenge of the year, Swim 22, between 22 February and 22 May but decided to take it up a notch.

Amy Evans, former Wales international rugby player is now an ambassador for the Diabetes UK Cymru’s Know type 1 campaign. The Ospreys women player of the year in 2019 won 35 caps since making her debut against England in 2015 and now runs her own fitness centre in Aberdare.

Ellen, 71, has had type 2 diabetes for over 20 years. She hopes her challenge will raise more awareness of the seriousness of the condition.

Type 1 diabetes can develop very quickly. If not swiftly identified and treated, children can become seriously unwell with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). This can be life-threatening.