Hi, my name is Ciara, and I’ve created this fundraiser to support a cause that’s extremely close to my heart — Breakthrough T1D UK (formerly JDRF UK), a charity dedicated to funding vital research and improving the lives of everyone affected by type 1 diabetes.

I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when I was just 7 years old. Since then, it’s shaped every day of my life — a constant balancing act of managing blood sugar levels, taking insulin, counting carbs, and monitoring how my body feels. Around 23,000 injections since i was diagnosed. What many people don’t realise is that I’m doing the physical work of an organ that no longer functions — a job that never stops, not even for a moment.

But I refuse to let this condition define me.

To mark my journey and raise awareness, I’ve set a goal to raise £400 for Breakthrough T1D UK. I’ll also be getting my first tattoo — the symbols representing the phrase “I am greater than the highs and the lows.”

Though it originates from a Bible verse, and I’m not religious myself, this message holds powerful meaning for me. It reminds me that I am not my chronic illness. I am more than the constant high and low blood sugars, the calculations, and the challenges. And I believe that with support, research, and awareness, we can push for a future where type 1 diabetes is no longer a lifelong burden.

Breakthrough T1D UK is helping make that future possible through life-changing research, advanced technologies, and tireless advocacy. Every donation, no matter the amount, helps fund that vital progress.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read, share, and support my journey. It truly means the world to me.

With love and hope,

Ciara