Irongirls: 2 Girls, 2 Races, 1 Goal

Type 1 Diabetes is a hard disease to manage, for kids and parents around the world. It's a huge shock, followed by a huge learning curve. Its a 24/7 disease and it has to be managed 24/7.

If you know us, a little or a lot, you will know Teija is the girl with the plastic in her arm. That plastic saves her life all the time, it is a Continuous Glucose Monitor and via the magic of the internet it tells me (Mum) how she's going all day and all night. I could not live without it. I didn't sleep before we had it.

These CGMs are not funded in New Zealand (they are in other parts of the world) but in those first horrendous few days when you get home from hospital they would be so helpful to parents. So we want everyone to have the chance to have one.

When you're first diagnosed and admitted to hospital. You're given a bright yellow backpack from Diabetes Youth New Zealand. It has books for the child, books for their siblings, info for Mum and Dad - but most importantly, it has better finger prickers, a better blood monitor, a better carry kit - just things that help you as you find your feet.

We want to make those kits better by raising enough money to put a Continuous Glucose Monitor in all the kits for newly diagnosed kids, so that all their parents can have the freedom of not having to finger prick in the middle of the night, they can see if blood is going up, or down, work out if we need insulin or jelly beans at any point in time.

SO, what are are we going to earn your precious cash?

On February 24th 2019 the fabulous Miss Teija Joronen will complete the IRONKIDZ race at Lake Taupo; a 200m swim in the lake, an 8km bike ride followed swiftly by a 2km run. No mean feat for any kid, never mind a T1D! Go Teija!

A week later on March 2nd 2019 Mum; old, tired and arthritis ridden Helen and her ceramic hip, will complete Ironman 70.3 - a 2km swim in Lake Taupo, a 90km bike ride followed by a 21km run to the famous finish line. Go Mum!

Its a big stretch for us both, (possibly bigger for Mum!) But it's a big goal and we are putting in the effort to make sure we don't disappoint our donors and sponsors.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read about our project, we'll keep you up to date with how we're going and what happens with all our awesome new monitors!

Lots of love

H&T XXXXX