Diabetes won’t stop me!

 

In a summer when we have all been bowled over by the achievements of Britain’s Olympians and Paralympians, young Cerys provides us with her own local slice of inspiration.

 

Diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in February 2009, the Trewern youngster has become somewhat of a purveyor for that famous adidas slogan that ‘Impossible is Nothing’ after completing her latest challenges of a bike ride to Paris and the Duke of Edinburgh Award.

 

“I have always said it would not stop me doing anything,” said Cerys. “If anything, the diabetes has made me do a lot more than I probably would have done if I didn’t have it. Anyone with diabetes, type 1 or 2, can do anything. Too many people let it hold them back. It shouldn’t.”

 

Her unquenchable thirst for adventure started last year when she completed the cross-Wales walk and she enlisted the help of her parents Mark and Rachel Bennett and auntie, Sue Harffey, for her Anglo-French bike challenge. By the time she reached the Eiffel Tower, the group had raised £7,390 for diabetes UK.

 

“It took us a total of three days to do the actual cycle ride; riding for about eight hours each day,” she explained. “The first day we cycled 74 miles, the second 73 and the third 55 miles. We were away from home for five days. It was hard, there were a fair few hills and a couple were three miles long and were called ‘cheeky little hills’ by the leaders!

 

“I was very tired after, but it was easier than I first thought it was going to be. I stayed in control of my blood sugars, and had no hypo’s (low blood sugar) throughout.”

 

Incredibly, two days after returning from France, Cerys completed her Duke of Edinburgh despite concern over her blood sugar levels.

 

“I am going to continue cycling because it keeps my blood sugars well under control and makes me feel a lot better in myself. Next year I am thinking about going skydiving with Rhys Williams, we need to raise around £700 but hopefully we will raise more. I will almost definitely be doing another challenge after that, just not quite sure what it will be just yet!”