Cyclists living with type 1 diabetes plan to ride length of UK to raise awareness about condition
Trio will hold a series of community days on their travels to share knowledge and inspire others.
“To change what people with type 1 diabetes believe is possible” is the stated mission for a trio of cyclists living with the condition who are preparing for a 2,000km ride from Land’s End to John O’Groats.
The Ride4T1 campaign aims to connect the type 1 diabetes community across the UK, with five free community days scheduled en route to help people gain knowledge and confidence to become more physically active.
The three cyclists began their journey this week (26th August) from Land’s End at the southern western tip of England and plan to arrive at John O’Groats in the very north of Scotland in September.
The three core riders are Jerry Gore, Dave Stimson and Henry Aspden – who all live with type 1 diabetes.
They said: “Ride4T1 aims to help people with type 1 diabetes move more by giving them the knowledge, practical tools and confidence to understand how to be physically active while managing their diabetes.
“Ride4T1 is not really about cycling 2,000 kilometres. It is about helping somebody who may currently be frightened or uncertain about exercise to take their own first step – whether that means walking for 20 minutes, swimming, getting back on a bike, playing sport with their children or undertaking their own adventure.”
The group plan to host a series of five free type 1 community days over the course of their ride, bringing together people living with type 1 diabetes, families, healthcare professionals and diabetes organisations.
Events are scheduled at:
Saturday, 29th August at The Double Locks Pub, Exeter
Monday, 31st August at Ashton Court Mansion, Bristol
Sunday, 6th September at The Brownlee Centre, Leeds
Saturday, 12th September at The Meadows, Edinburgh
Wednesday, 16th September at The Castle Community Hall, Inverness
More information to get involved and contribute to the above events here
Organisers said: “The community days will provide an informal environment where people can meet others living with T1D, talk with healthcare professionals and people experienced in exercising with diabetes, ask questions, learn about diabetes technology and discover practical ways of becoming more confident about physical activity.”
The Ride4T1 team highlighted that physical activity is an important part of managing type 1 diabetes, in addition to insulin and nutrition, it is often overlooked.
Fear of hypoglycaemia, uncertainty about insulin and carbohydrate adjustment, changing glucose levels and lack of practical knowledge can all make exercise daunting.
Ride4T1 wants to help change that.
Ride4T1 founder Jerry Gore, 65, has lived with type 1 diabetes since 2001 and has spent more than two decades undertaking endurance challenges, climbing and cycling while using insulin.
Jerry said: "I want to change what people with type 1 diabetes believe is possible. That doesn't mean everyone should climb mountains or cycle 2,000 kilometres. For somebody else, success might be having the confidence to go for a walk, start swimming, get back on their bike or simply become a little more active every day. Too many people with type 1 diabetes worry about what exercise might do to their glucose levels. We want to give people the knowledge and confidence to make physical activity something to enjoy rather than something to fear. Ride4T1 isn't really about the three of us riding from Land's End to John O'Groats. The ride is simply the vehicle for bringing the type 1 diabetes community together."
A major part of Ride4T1 will be the launch of the first-of-its kind EXTOD (Exercise for Type 1 Diabetes) Exercise Confidence Guides. Developed with input from EXTOD, DSN Forum, Enhance-D, many specialist diabetes healthcare professionals and people living with type 1 diabetes, the guides provide simple, practical information for people who want to become more physically active but may not know where to begin.
They address some of the fundamental questions that can prevent people from exercising, including why to exercise, effect on blood glucose, how to start, what needed to exercise safely and how to make exercise work for you.
For more information about Ride4T1 and all events click here
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