A Fort William woman is taking on a 400km walking challenge in a bid to raise £5,000 for two causes close to her heart.
Ailsa Graham set off from Fort William on Wednesday April 10 on a three-week mission to complete the daunting Cape Wrath Trail to the north western tip of the UK in aid of Diabetes UK and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund.
To make the extreme trek even more testing, the 29-year-old will climb 10 Munros along the way – one for each year since her own diagnosis with a rare strain of the illness.
Ailsa said: “When I was told, I didn’t realise how much of an impact diabetes would have on my life. As I came to terms with it, I realised that things I used to take for granted were now harder and would take much more thought and planning. It’s easy to worry about what could go wrong, but I don’t ever want to look back at my life and know I let diabetes stop me doing anything.
"To mark ten years since my diagnosis, I wanted to do something to show other people with insulin-dependent diabetes that we don’t have to let this limit our lives or what we can do.
“I’ve had to learn a lot about myself and work hard to get to a point where this feels possible, but changes in diabetes treatment and technology have helped. I couldn’t do what I do without my continuous glucose monitor which helps me manage my blood sugars even in extreme conditions and through physical challenges.
“Raising money for more research will help these two charities keep improving the health and possibilities for people into the future."
Initially thought to have Type 1 diabetes, further tests revealed Ailsa had Maturity Onset Diabetes in the Young, where a faulty gene causes the disease to develop. In Ailsa’s case, she has a very rare mutation of the insulin gene. There are probably fewer than 200 people in the UK with this form of diabetes.
After recovering from the serious health problems she had suffered, Ailsa was determined to pursue her dream career. She is now a successful freelance outdoor pursuits instructor and mountain leader, as well as working for Ellis Brigham, the outdoor pursuits specialist retailer.
During the 400km hike, she will camp out on the trail and be eating dehydrated meals. The strain of ploughing through mountainous, boggy terrain in all weather conditions adds to the challenge for someone with diabetes.
She said: “Living with this is not easy. Diabetics are constantly thinking about what to eat, when to eat, how much to eat, how any physical activity will affect our sugars and how much insulin to take. You have to be disciplined every day to keep the disease under control.”
The two charities Ailsa is supporting do vital work to improve the lives of the more than four million people in the UK living with diabetes. Diabetes UK undertakes research and provides information and support for those living with all types of diabetes, including the rarer genetic variations, while the Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund works specifically to find a cure for Type 1 diabetes.
Ailsa said: “I’d be grateful for any donations people can give towards my target. I’ll be posting regularly about my progress and I know the only thing that will keep me going in the really tough moments is the generosity of all those who have donated to my cause. I thank everyone in advance."
To donate to her fundraiser and the two diabetes charities, click here.
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