Event raises diabetes awareness

The inaugural Ohope Express event next weekend will help raise awareness and funds for the Diabetes Exercise and Sport Association.

Although they don't know each other and live different lives, Ian Coventry and Neve Power share a bond.

Four years ago the pair were diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, a condition that has significantly changed the way they and their families live.

They will soon meet when they participate in the inaugural Ohope Express next weekend.

The running and walking event has been established to raise awareness and funds for the Diabetes Exercise and Sport Association (Desa).

Coventry, 48, and Power, 10, were selected as event ambassadors as they have learned to cope with type 1 diabetes while maintaining active lifestyles.

Coventry will run the half-marathon course with wife Justine, while Power will complete the 5km course with her mum and dad.

"I like this event because it will help people know more about diabetes," said Power. "Having diabetes doesn't change who I am but it does mean I sometimes have to do things differently."

The pair have learned that a healthy lifestyle is essential to living with diabetes, and diet and exercise play a key role in successful management of the disease.

Coventry admitted the months after his diagnosis were very tough. "My greatest achievement is completing a six-hour adventure race six months after being diagnosed," he said. "I'm living proof that diabetes is something that can be managed successfully with some slight lifestyle adjustments.

"I can't emphasise enough how important it is to stay fit and healthy."

Diabetes is an auto-immune disease where the body attacks cells that make insulin, the hormone that regulates blood sugar levels.

Type 1 diabetics must take regular blood tests and inject insulin; this form of diabetes cannot be prevented or cured, while type 2 diabetes can.

The latter can be managed through diet and exercise, especially if caught early. Precursor symptoms for type 2 diabetes include fatigue, thirst or frequent infections.

Event organiser Mike van der Boom believed helping Desa was a good fit with his business' philosophy.

"We are committed to supporting projects that benefit the community and environment," he said.

"Diabetes now affects 1 in 20 New Zealanders and we can help by raising awareness and funds for Desa, and providing fun events that help people achieve an active and healthy lifestyle."

All funds raised from the 5km event go directly to Desa, while 10km and half-marathon participants can make a donation or sign up for "Canter for a Cause".

Canter for a Cause fundraisers pledge to raise a minimum of $200 and those who are successful are eligible for a special prize draw.

Nick McCorkingdale has put his money where his mouth is. He has signed to be a Canter for a Cause runner and has taken his fundraising one step further.

McCorkingdale put out a call to his Facebook friends that he would match their donations dollar-for-dollar, up to $50.

Despite some gentle ribbing from his mates, many have already committed to the cause with a few sponsoring each kilometre he runs.

He has entered the half-marathon and wife Jacqs has entered the 10km walk. He said the goal-setting was perfectly timed for the couple.

"Jacqs and I both turned 40 in the last year and we decided that being fit has to be a priority," he said.

The community-minded couple are no strangers to fundraising. They co-ordinate a fundraiser for their children's school, which sees 37 teams of volunteers delivering about 25,000 copies of the Yellow Pages to every letterbox in the local suburbs where they live.

McCorkingdale said his training had been low-key, doing 8km to 9km twice a week and one longer run on the weekend. "The half-marathon will be my first run of that distance and first-ever running event.

"I'd like to go under two hours but really, I just want to finish."