INTERNATIONAL athlete, marathon endurance challenger and Olympic torch carrier Gavin Griffiths visited Statham Community Primary School to inspire pupils and raise awareness of Type 1 Diabetes.
To celebrate Diabetes Week (13th – 17th June) Gavin popped into the school to speak with pupils and set them their own marathon running challenge.
Gavin talked about his own diagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes when he was eight years old and how he was initially told he couldn’t compete in competitive sports.
Luckily he proved the doctors and other people who told him he couldn’t do it wrong. He inspired pupils with his positive mental attitude and showed them how they can achieve their dreams whatever the challenges they are faced with.
The pupils are running a marathon this term as part of their campaign to raise awareness for Type 1 Diabetes.
Their school field has been measured and each class has a route map of the London marathon allowing them to chart their progress daily.
Gavin set them off on their challenge, running with them and even allowing them to carry his olympic torch whilst running.
His visit was especially relevant to pupil Daisy Nurse, aged 7, who also has Type 1 Diabetes.
She was diagnosed at just 16 months old and the school community is fantastically supportive of her condition, providing full-time medical support.
Despite her condition Daisy plays a lot of sport and has now been inspired by Gavin with what she can achieve.
While there is a lot of media coverage about Diabetes, there is little to differentiate between Type 1 and Type 2.
The vast majority of Type 1 diagnoses are in children, with 28,000 children in the UK living with the condition.
It is an autoimmune disease and has nothing to do with diet, lifestyle or weight and requires constant, intense management, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
However, it is important to educate children affected by the disease that they can still overcome and achieve their dreams.
The misrepresentation and concentration of Type 2 Diabetes in the press often results in bullying and misunderstanding of the condition by children at school.
The support of friends and colleagues is therefore critical for the well being of children with Type 1.
Gavin’s visit proved that anyone, with any disability can achieve something they set their mind to.
His own impressive achievements include running 30 marathons in 30 days from John O’Groats to Lands End, cycling 1500km across the Alps from Brussels to Geneva and Manhattan’s marathon challenge.
