Woman with type 1 diabetes set to push her physical boundaries

A woman with type 1 diabetes has committed to carrying out 10 gruelling physical challenges to raise money in honour of her late mother.
Rachel Tait, from Lenton in Nottingham, has vowed she will not let her condition stand in the way of success.
Speaking to The Nottingham Post, the 26-year-old, said: “My diabetes is very much a motivation. I don’t let it get in the way of anything.
“I think it’s sad that some people do. There isn’t a cure for it, but I don’t see why people should let it stop them.”
Rachel was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes aged 11 and due to her active lifestyle was forced to learn how to balance the condition alongside her exercise routine.
As her mum died 10 years ago of cancer, Rachel wanted to do something to mark the milestone, so she decided to embark upon several epic tasks to push her limits, raising money for charity along the way.
Among the activities planned are climbing England’s highest peak at 3,209ft, a 100-mile cycle ride and a 24-hour hour run in Derbyshire. But, one of the most difficult challenges Rachel has set herself is an open water swim of 5k in the Lake District.
She said: “I’ll be in the water for a good two hours and it’s very hard to consume anything while I am swimming. I’ll probably have to have glucose gel packs stuffed down my wetsuit. I’ll have to work out how to get them out.”
Her series of fundraising missions will then be rounded off by participating in Rachel’s first marathon in Italy. The money she raises will be shared between Cancer Research UK and St Cuthbert’s, the Durham hospice that cared for her.
As well as raising much-needed funds, Rachel hopes to inspire others who have type 1 diabetes and realise their full potential. She said: “I hope that my story shows that just because you have it, you should not let that hold you back in life. I have always been encouraged to push myself and go beyond my comfort zone.”