One mile? Five miles? Ten? If you have been following this blog, you know that most of my posts are aimed at helping people with type 2 diabetes, but today I came across this story about a mother and son in Canada who are walking 100 km to raise money for diabetes research. The boy has type 1 diabetes.
Oscar Munier Martinez is only ten years old, but his life changed when doctors diagnosed him with Type 1 diabetes this past March. With the help of his mother, Anne, Oscar has spent the past few months learning how to count carbs, monitor his glucose and exercise. He has even learned how to give himself insulin injections.
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the discovery of insulin by Dr. Frederick Banting and his team at the University of Toronto. Their breakthrough opened a world of possibilities for people with diabetes worldwide, such as Oscar. Now, the Munier Martinez family is striving towards even better outcomes for those living with diabetes. “We’re not just doing the 100-kilometre walk as a celebration, we’re also fundraising for a cure for diabetes,” Anne Munier said.
Anne and Oscar have already raised $4000 for their walk, all of which will go to the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation, Canada. Its team is researching how stem cells can derive insulin-producing islet cells that can be transplanted back into a diabetic patient’s body.
In addition to monetary donations, people have also sent gift cards to help pay for groceries, while others have offered to provide lodging for the Muniers along the way. And the Royal York Hotel in Toronto has offered a room for the last night of their trek, something the mother and son are looking forward to.
Anne reports that Oscar is doing really well in terms of activity level, his motivation and attitude toward life. So what about you? How far will you go to achieve your goal? I don’t mean in terms of physical distance like Anne and Oscar are doing, but in terms of effort, motivation, and will. Are you willing to cut back on calories, increase your physical activity and monitor your progress?
If you are, why not sign up for my 21-day healthy lifestyle challenge that starts next week? You will learn simple changes you can make that will help you lose weight and improve your health. Sign up below.
