DIABETES NEW ZEALAND

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Jack and Vincent’s greatest race (so far!)

On 2 April, Hamilton 17-year-olds Jack Murray-Griffiths and Vincent Gordon set off on a month-long journey, cycling the length of the country to fundraise for Diabetes NZ.

Jack has type 1 diabetes – he was diagnosed just before his seventh birthday. He and his best mate Vincent are no strangers to long cycle trips, but this challenge – from Cape Rēinga to the Bluff – was beyond anything they had done before. It would be a challenge for anyone, they note – with or without type 1!

Once they decided to do it, though, there was no stopping them. Jack says, ‘We’re pretty much always on our bikes – or planning the next great attempt. After we did a trip cycling from Hamilton to Wellington, we knew we could do something bigger. With that thought in mind, we decided: why not do it in support of an organisation that has helped me so much?’

Jack had a Dexcom G6 CGM to help him manage his blood glucose on the trip, and he used it with his pump.

Making plans to stay safe was vital for everyone, so Jack and Vincent wore trackers so their parents could see where they were at any given time.

Read the rest of Jack and Vincent’s story in the Winter 2022 issue of Diabetes Wellness, available to read online below: