DRWF Fundraising: Diabetes diagnosis derailed train driver’s life
Father brought to tears when he discovered his seven-year-old daughter had the same life-changing type 1 diabetes auto-immune condition. Now 40-year-old is tackling the London Marathon to fundraise for diabetes research.
A train driver who has been living with type 1 diabetes for 15 years was initially worried it might affect his safety-critical job.
Then he received the shock news that his seven-year-old daughter also had the same auto-immune condition which is unrelated to lifestyle.
Carl Greaves (40) from Barnet is taking on this year’s London Marathon on Sunday, 23rd April for DRWF following his emotional journey from denial and misery, to an enlightened campaigner and fundraiser.
Carl, who received his type 1 diabetes diagnosis in 2008 and his daughter’s five years later, said: “I realised this was something you don't cure but you have to manage and live with it for the rest of your life. Every run, every meal, every illness, every hypo, every single day.
“I thought my daughter’s life was going to be just as miserable as mine had and it broke my heart.”
Carl was devastated and admitted crying floods of tears. He recalled being elated at his own diagnosis because he finally discovered why he had been feeling so unwell. He hoped the treatment would help him.
Carl said: “I could start feeling better. Little did I realise the struggles ahead.”
Fast forward nine years and the NHS has shown Carl and his daughter just how wrong he had been.
Carl said: “There is so much amazing technology and medicine out there, we had the resources to help us live as normal a life as is possible.”
His daughter is now doing well with her studies in secondary school and preparing for her GCSEs.
Boosted by the help he has been given through diabetes research and NHS care; Carl is now training to take on the biggest challenge he has given himself since being diagnosed.
Carl said he has witnessed so many advances in technology, medicine, and education since his diagnosis, and wants to give something back to support the work of the charity: “I have chosen to run for DRWF as it supports exactly what the name implies: diabetes research; which has been so vital, not only for my daughter and myself, but also for the 400,000 people living with type 1 diabetes in the UK today, with around 29,000 of those being children.”
Tim Green, DRWF Head of Community Fundraising, said: “We are blown away by Carl’s dedication and fundraising efforts for DRWF. The charity provides information and support, while funding diabetes research in order to better understand the causes, prevention, and treatment of diabetes. It is people like Carl who make our work possible.”
Carl has almost reached his £2,500 target and hopes to smash that with continuing enthusiastic support.
You can contribute by visiting Carl’s fundraising page here
Find out more about DRWF Fundraising here
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