A diabetes sufferer will cycle 150 miles in one day this summer to raise money for charity.
Jason Searle, 42, of Wisbech, who was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes more than 30 years ago, will take on the epic cycle in August in aid of Diabetes UK, which is celebrating its 80th birthday this year.
He will set off from his Wisbech home and head towards the Norfolk coast passing through King’s Lynn then Sandringham before taking the coastal route through Wells next the Sea and Cromer.
He plans to return home about 12 hours later, travelling through Lakenheath and Mildenhall.
He said: “I enjoy cycling and some of my routes are more than 60 miles so I thought why not set myself a challenge?
“I’ve been thinking about doing some kind of challenge for a while now and I love cycling and go out most weekends. Even my local route is 24 miles so I’m hoping 150 miles in a day should be fine.
“I was diagnosed when I was nine years old but it has never held me back. I’ve always managed my condition myself including injecting myself from day one, after practicing on an orange.
“It will just be me and the bike and the miles and no pressure. I will take a bag of wine gums, a blood monitor, spare syringe and some water.”
Sharon Roberts, Eastern regional manager for Diabetes UK, said: “Jason’s attitude and his challenge is amazing. He is proof that living with diabetes is no barrier to enjoying a full and active life and as Jason has found being active can also help to manage the condition.
“No one knows exactly what causes Type 1 diabetes, but it’s not to do with being overweight and isn’t currently preventable. “However people like Jason help fund ongoing research which aims to create a world without diabetes.”
In the UK, about 3.8 million people have diabetes. There are 3.2 million people living with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, and about 630,000 more who have Type 2 diabetes but don’t know they have it because they haven’t been diagnosed.
People with Type 1 diabetes cannot produce insulin. If not managed well, both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes can lead to devastating complications.
For more information on diabetes and access to Diabetes UK services, go to www.diabetes.org.uk
To donate to Jason’s cycling challenge fund visit http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/searley71
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