Cricket legend Ian Botham set to do his last walk for type 1 diabetes

Legendary cricket all-rounder, Sir Ian ‘Beefy’ Botham is set to retire from fundraising walks for type 1 diabetes research.
On Sunday 3 December, Botham will walk in Sydney, Australia to raise vital funds for the charity JDRF to invest in type 1 diabetes research projects. It will be the last of four final walks he does in Australia. On Fri 24 November, Botham celebrated his 62nd birthday with a walk for diabetes in Brisbane.
Botham is most famous for a series of ‘never say die’ batting and bowling performances. His unbeaten century at Headingley in 1981 against Australia is one of his most enduring innings as a batsman. Seemingly swinging at anything red that moved that day, his run score flew by the seat his pants to 149 not out.
The performance won England the match and levelled a series England that would go on to win 3-1 and claim the Ashes. Botham was man of the match in each of those three historic wins.
Botham has taken his determination to fighting type 1 diabetes for 32 years. One of his two daughters, Becky, has had type 1 diabetes from an early age and is joining Ian on his walks.
Over those 32 years, Botham estimates he’s walked nearly 20,00 miles for type 1 diabetes and other causes. Those miles are equivalent to walking 1.6 million runs in cricket!
Botham told the JDRF: “As a parent of a child with type 1 diabetes, I have seen the challenges and struggles of this condition first hand. I also have seen the massive improvements research has been able to deliver over the past 20 years.
“So, I am both proud and excited to play my part in helping generate more funds for type 1 diabetes research.”
We give Sir Ian a standing ovation for a long, successful innings in the match against type 1 diabetes.