We caught up with diathlete Gavin Griffiths recently when he provided a type 1 diabetes education session to the children and parents of the Diabetes UK Pembrokeshire group.
Since being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in January 2000, a date he refers to as his DiAversary, Gavin has been committed to staying active despite his diagnosis. He has completed a number of extraordinary physical challenges over the past 8 years, including running the length of Britain from John O’Groats in Scotland to Lands End in England, covering 30 miles every day for 30 days – wow!
Gavin travels around the world with his mantra ‘educate, encourage and empower the next generation living with diabetes’. Through a series of diabetes education talks and exercise sessions, he aims to help others learn how to effectively manage type 1 diabetes.
He spoke about the incredible physical challenges that he has embarked on over the past few years and led a trampolining session with the kids of the Diabetes UK group to teach them about blood-glucose management.
We were so inspired by Gavin’s spirit and attitude towards diabetes that we gave him some FRIO cooling pouches, drinks coolers and cooling sports bands to help him in his upcoming physical challenge in Romania.
As Gavin uses insulin pens, we gave him the best FRIO’s for the job; a Duo pouch and Large pouch. We also gave Gavin a few extra pouches so that he can give them to the people he meets on his travels.
Gavin will run in the ASCOTID trail race in the woodlands of Targu Mures in Transylvania, Romania this September to help raise awareness of type 1 diabetes. ASCOTID is a type 1 diabetes organisation based in Targu Mures. It’s a children and young diabetics association that aims to inform the general population about diabetes and raise awareness of type 1.
The journey doesn’t end there for Gavin as he will be following his Romania challenge with a 70 mile Diathlon run around the coast of the isle of wight. You can catch Gavin speaking at his upcoming events such as the Thriveabetes Conference in Dublin, Ireland on 1st October and the ISPAD conference in Valencia 26-29th October.
Follow Gavin’s journey on his blog here: https://diathlete.org/
