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Mohammed's story: running for the first time to support daughter

Mohammed

Daughter Evie diagnosed at 5.

I just want to finish the Great North Run and see my daughter at the end. I don't need any more motivation.

Mohammed has never done any running but is taking on the challenge to support his daughter Evie, 5, who was recently diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.

Mohammed shares experiences aboutJourney with diabetes Fundraising

Mohammed's diabetes story

Evie had not been herself for nearly a year and kept being misdiagnosed by her GP. It wasn’t until she slipped into a hypo coma and was rushed into The Newcastle Royal Victoria Infirmary Hospital that a diabetes specialist doctor looked at her and confirmed she had Type 1 diabetes. It was a massive shock to us all as it does not run in either of our family.

Evie was and continues to be a happy bubbly child but she lost a lot of weight and was constantly grumpy before being diagnosed. She was just skin and bone when she was admitted to hospital. But not even a week after diagnoses the colour had returned to her cheeks and she was back to her happy, bubbly and mischievous self.

It’s been a massive shock to us all. Evie's mum and I aren’t together and therefore I only see her twice a month. But I am eternally grateful for how Evie’s mum has, and will continue to, look after her.

Improving treatments

I want to take part in a fundraising event for Diabetes UK because it's heartbreaking seeing what diabetes has done to my child.

Running 13 miles is a mere drop in the ocean compared to what Evie now faces every day.

I'm hoping the treatment will improve as she gets older and becomes more structured towards the individual. And hopefully, it will involve a lot less pricking of fingers.

The challenge

I don’t have any running experience so this will be a real challenge for me. The most running I’ve done recently is running for the office exit at 5pm on a Friday. But I'm taking on the Great North Run as it's local to my area – I can see the runners every year run across the Tyne Bridge from my lounge window and it’s something I’ve considered doing for a while.

The challenge of running a half marathon is daunting but I will finish it. The time it takes is not a worry for me – I just want to finish and see my daughter at the end. I don’t need any more motivation.

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Mohammed's fundraising page