Paul Sycamore from Little Thetford, Cambridgeshire has raised almost £3000 for us by taking on the gruelling ultra-marathon Weaver’s Way from Stalham to Cromer in Norfolk.
Paul, 40, is a self-employed plumber who lives with type 1 diabetes as does his father and son, Archie, who is 6 years old. The Sycamores also have two other children, Sienna and Ruby. He said:
“When I was first diagnosed with type 1 diabetes aged 13, I found it hard and didn’t want to do injections. Now, I am on an insulin pump and Dexcom on a closed loop. It helps a lot with day-to-day especially with controlling levels while running”.
Paul’s father has lived with diabetes since 1970. Paul said:
“My dad is suffering a lot now unfortunately with dialysis and other complications because of the diabetes. I am gutted that my son also has it. He was four years old when diagnosed and I am so proud of him for putting up with it.
"After about 3 months of Archie being diagnosed, he and I went to get our hair cut. He was finished before me, and the hairdresser gave him a sweet lollypop. He sat down and waited for me before he started eating it because he had learned that he needed insulin. I couldn’t have been prouder of him.”
That is why Paul decided to start fundraising through marathons, such as running the London marathon twice and completing the 50k challenge this year:
“I want to help Diabetes UK so that hopefully one day there is a cure for diabetes and also to prove to my son that it shouldn’t hold you back. I enjoy keeping fit for good health and it helps me mentally. My wife, Melissa, is amazing supporting me with my running and training as well as helping me and Archie control our blood sugars”.
All the family is involved in fundraising for us with Paul’s daughters hosting a bake sale in their driveway and raising £350.
Teresa Strange, our Community Fundraiser for the East said:
“Paul and his family have been amazing in their support for our charity. A few months ago, Paul had to cancel his ultra-marathon because of COVID-19 and bounced back, having now completed the challenge.
"We are so grateful to have fundraisers like Paul who are helping us support others and fund life-changing research to ensure that people live well with diabetes or that a cure is found. We aim to stop diabetes forever, as we are pushing for this World Diabetes Day through all the research work we fund."
For information on fundraising in the Midlands and East please contact: Charlotte.Wright@diabetes.org.uk
