Kitchener woman cycling to raise cash for Type 1 Diabetes research
Posted Jun 9, 2018 06:33:52 AM.
Last Updated Jun 9, 2018 06:34:40 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A Kitchener woman is hoping a 860 km bike ride will raise some serious cash for Type 1 Diabetes research.
Kate Osborn will be setting off on her two week journey Saturday morning. She’ll travel along the Trans Canada Trail starting at the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa and ending in Kitchener’s Victoria Park on June 23rd.
Osborn doesn’t consider herself a cyclist, and says the past year of training has come with a lot of personal challenges. Living with Type 1 Diabetes herself, Osborn says it was time to get out of her comfort zone.
“I set a goal of $21,000. It’s a rather large one, but I think that, you know, a year of my life has gone into it and really if you’re going to do something like that, make it big, go after something large.”
She adds since dusting off her mom’s bike 365 days ago, she has learned a lot about herself.
“The last year there have been so many personal challenges and changes and growth, and those were things that I was always so against and I fought tooth and nail to stay in my comfort zone, and I just got sick of it. Nothing really happens there, life is boring in your comfort zone, get out of it. Challenge yourself.”
The ride isn’t just about raising money, but also awareness about the autoimmune disease. Osborn says it’s important that people know Type 1 Diabetes and Type 2 Diabetes are two very different things.
“Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease in which a person’s pancreas stops producing insulin, a hormone that enables people to get energy from food. While insulin injections or infusion allow a person with T1D to stay alive, they do not cure the disease, nor do they necessarily prevent the possibility of the disease’s serious effects.”
She has this message for anyone living with the disease.
“Your pancreas is dead but you’re not, so don’t let it stop you from living your life, step out of your comfort zone. T1Ds, we can have a very healthy and active lifestyle, we just have to plan and think a lot more than a normal person would about it.”
After living with Type 1 Diabetes for the past 21 years, Osborn adds it’s important that people with any disease know they are not alone, and there is an amazing, supportive community willing to help.
You can contribute to Osborn’s fundraising efforts through:
