Runner's diabetes journey takes her to the London Marathon

Two months later, she found out. She was diagnosed with type-one diabetes and immediately ordered to start insulin treatment.

Now she is running with so much more comfort that she is to compete in the ‘daddy’ of all marathons in London on April 23. And what’s more, she will be raising money for one of the world’s leading diabetes charities.

“I had a really hard time in that first marathon at York,” recalled 43-year-old Sam, a computer programmer. “It was awful. But when I ran my second at Manchester, it was much better and my time was about an hour faster. Now I’m quite excited about London. It’s an iconic event and I’ve always thought it would be a nice marathon to do.”

Sam took up running in 2010 when joining a group at her local gym. “At school, I used to hate running,” said Sam, of Southwell Road. “But I became really hooked and I’ve done about 15 half-marathons.”

Now she is in full training for London, where she will be joined by friends Dawn Morley, 51, of Sutton, who is running for homeless charities, and Leah Wright, 44, of Ravenshead, who is raising money for leukeamia research.

Sam is hoping to generate £2,000 for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). You can sponsor her online via her Virgin Money Giving page.

“Type-one diabetes can happen to anyone, at any age,” she said. “It came as a shock to me because I’d always considered myself fit and healthy. Please show your support for the great work this charity does in trying to end the devastation of this chronic illness, for which there is no cure.”