Running-a-muck for diabetes charity

A DOOLIN couple plan to Run-A-Muck in Kildare later this year as part of an initiative launched recently by Diabetes Ireland. Rebecca and John Flanagan will take part in the challenge as part of TEAM Diabetes Ireland to raise awareness and funds for diabetes and diabetes research.

“When I saw the call-out for people to come together to create a TEAM for this fun event and fundraise for Diabetes Ireland, I jumped at the opportunity as our daughter, Hailey, has Type 1 diabetes” Rebecca said.
“These fundraising events do more than just raise money as they allow people on the ground, the diabetes community that deal with this condition every day, to come together, meet new people and share their experiences but also importantly have a positive and enjoyable life experience together through taking part as a member of a TEAM. We hope many others will join us on this event as the very first TEAM Diabetes Ireland,” she said.
TEAM Diabetes Ireland is a campaign to encourage people to undertake fundraising for the national charity, while participating in individual sports events. Diabetes Ireland aims to have a TEAM participating in various events in Ireland across the year, such as triathlons, adventure races, marathons, road races and mud runs.
“We chose the Run-A-Muck event because it is something different. We wouldn’t be hugely fit people but it looked like fun and something that people would sponsor. We thought it is something that people would laugh at my husband and I doing so that should bring more sponsors on board. It will be fun but it will be a challenge for us. We do spin classes and I do aerobics but the weather is not conducive to running just now, so we haven’t been training.
“Hailey would love to do these events with us but can’t because of her age. She will be 13 in March and for most things you have to be 16. Last week she did go out jogging with me and she is a great motivator. She knows we are doing this to raise awareness of her situation and of the national situation and trying to bring awareness of what diabetes is and what is needed in that area,” Rebecca explained.
Hailey currently has to inject insulin five times a day to regulate her blood sugar. Type 1 diabetes usually develops in childhood and is caused by the body’s own immune system destroying the insulin-making cells (beta-cells) of the pancreas.
“Hailey hasn’t let having diabetes have a huge effect on her life. She is very positive but it is an everyday, constant thing we all deal with it. We don’t want it affecting our lives so as a family we make a team effort. We don’t have sweets in the house all the time. We have to recognise that Hailey isn’t able to just eat what she wants when she wants it and at the moment she is on five injections a day. She has blood tests between five and eight times per day. The results vary all the time. They could be different every day so we have to adapt to them,” Rebecca outline.
An insulin pump would mean an injection just once every three days but, according to Rebecca, Hailey does not have access to an insulin pump “because of HSE resources”.
“I want the best treatment for Hailey. The biggest thing is that because it is a chronic illness, which means she will live with for the rest of her life, anything that would make it easier for her, from a parent’s point of view, is very important. Watching her having her injections, and knowing there is something better is very hard,” she said.
TEAM Diabetes Ireland is open to those with diabetes, as well as those who are closely affected by it. The objective of this initiative is to create a greater experience on the day of the event for those who undertake to fundraise for the charity but also to build a sense of team identity and a team environment for those who often participate in such events on their own.
Fintan Tait was one of the first to express interest in joining a TEAM, with his preferred event being the Tri-Athlone.
He said, “I love the idea of competing under a TEAM Diabetes Ireland identity as when I saw this new concept it immediately gave me the motivation to try a triathlon.”
He is hoping others are interested in this triathlon too so a TEAM can be created for the event. He added, “I have done events in the past as my son, Seán, has Type 1 diabetes but training and competing on your own can be difficult to keep the motivation going on the cold, wet evenings, so the opportunity to participate in a team is just the motivation I needed to stop talking about doing my first triathlon and actually doing one.”
Those joining TEAM Diabetes Ireland will get introduced to new fellow team mates in advance of the event so they can start chatting, swap training tips and start to feel part of a team.
On the day of the event a TEAM hub, like any team dressing room, will be in place in the morning with support staff, while the new official team kit is in the final stages of design.
Anyone wishing to register their interest in joining a TEAM for any event across the year should contact Gary on gary.brady@diabetes.ie or on 01 8363022.