Two community diabetes nurses from Ceredigion are gearing up for a challenging bike ride to raise funds and awareness, and inspire their patients.
Colleagues Anwen Jones and Helen Saunders, Community Diabetes Specialist Nurses for Hywel Dda University Health Board, will be cycling almost 100 miles from Borth to Cardigan on Saturday 8 June, for Diabetes UK Cymru.
The winding route through the beautiful Ceredigion countryside will pass through every surgery area that they cover. The colleagues are inviting patients, their friends and families to join them for some or all of the journey. There is even a family-friendly section of the challenge, from Llanilar to Aberystwyth.
Anwen, 46, said, “We wanted to do something to raise awareness of the condition in the local area and support Diabetes UK Cymru. Many of the people Helen and I support are living with Type 2 diabetes and increasing their activity levels would really make a difference to their health. We hope that by taking on some or all of the route, people will feel inspired to be more active and empowered to do more to manage their condition.
“Neither of us are cyclists so we will find it just as much of a challenge. Helen and I are quite competitive and have said that whoever finishes first can have the day off on Monday!”
Wales has the highest prevalence of diabetes in the UK, with 7.4% of the population with the condition. In the Hywel Dda Health Board region this rises to 7.8%. 90 per cent of people with diabetes have Type 2.
Someone may develop Type 2 diabetes because of their family history, age and ethnic background puts them at increased risk. They are also more likely to get Type 2 diabetes if they are overweight. As many as three in five cases of Type 2 diabetes could be prevented or delayed by being more active, eating well and maintaining a healthy weight.
Joseph Cuff, Fundraising Manager, Diabetes UK Cymru, said, “We hope that people across Ceredigion will be inspired to jump on their bikes and get involved with Anwen and Helen’s challenge. Whether you join for a few miles or the whole route, everyone is welcome.”
Riders are invited to meet outside Borth Surgery ready to set off by 8.00am. The family challenge will start from Llanilar Surgery at 9.30am.
It costs £30 to sign up for the main cycle ride and £15 for the family challenge, with all funds raised going to Diabetes UK Cymru.
Anwen and Helen are starting their fundraising with a dinner and auction at the Llanina Arms on Saturday 27th April. Auction items include a signed Scarlets rugby shirt, a Wales rugby shirt signed by the grand-slam winning Six Nations team and a signed rugby ball with many other items kindly donated by local businesses. Tickets cost £25 each.
For more information on the cycle ride, or to buy tickets for the dinner, contact Anwen on anwenmai.jones@wales.nhs.uk or 07964 109694 or Joseph Cuff on joseph.cuff@diabetes.org.uk or 02920 668276.
Nyrsys Hywel Dda yn teithio 95 milltir i ysbrydoli pobl sydd â diabetes
Mae dwy nyrs diabetes gymunedol o Geredigion yn paratoi ar gyfer taith feicio heriol i godi arian a meithrin ymwybyddiaeth, ac i ysbrydoli eu cleifion.
Bydd Anwen Jones a Helen Saunders, Nyrsys Arbenigol Diabetes Cymunedol ar gyfer Bwrdd Iechyd Hywel Dda, yn beicio bron i 100 milltir o’r Borth i Aberteifi ddydd Sadwrn 8 Mehefin ar gyfer Diabetes UK Cymru.
Bydd y llwybr troellog trwy gefn gwlad hardd Ceredigion yn mynd trwy bob ardal feddygfa y maent yn gweithio ynddi. Mae’r cyd-weithwyr yn gwahodd cleifion, eu ffrindiau a’u teuluoedd i ymuno â nhw am rywfaint o’r daith neu’r daith gyfan. Mae yna hyd yn oed ran o’r her sy’n addas i deuluoedd, sef o Lanilar i Aberystwyth.
Dywedodd Anwen, 46, “Roeddem am wneud rhywbeth i godi ymwybyddiaeth o’r cyflwr yn yr ardal leol ac i gefnogi Diabetes UK Cymru. Mae llawer o’r bobl y mae Helen a minnau yn rhoi cymorth iddynt yn byw â diabetes Math 2, a byddai cynyddu eu lefelau gweithgaredd yn gwneud gwahaniaeth gwirioneddol i’w hiechyd. Trwy feicio’r daith gyfan neu ran ohoni, gobeithiwn y bydd pobl yn cael eu grymuso a’u hysbrydoli i fod yn fwy egnïol ac i wneud rhagor i reoli eu cyflwr.
“Nid oes yr un ohonom yn feicwyr, felly bydd y daith yn llawn cymaint o her i ni. Mae Helen a minnau yn eithaf cystadleuol, ac wedi cytuno y gall pa un bynnag o’r ddwy ohonom sy’n gorffen yn gyntaf gael y diwrnod i ffwrdd ar y dydd Llun!”
Mae gan Gymru’r nifer uchaf o bobl â diabetes yn y Deyrnas Unedig, gyda 7.4% o’r boblogaeth â’r cyflwr. Yn rhanbarth Bwrdd Iechyd Hywel Dda, mae hyn yn codi i 7.8%. Diabetes Math 2 sydd gan tua 90 y cant o’r bobl sydd â diabetes.
Gall unigolyn ddatblygu diabetes Math 2 am fod hanes o’r clefyd yn y teulu, a gall eu hoedran a’u cefndir ethnig olygu eu bod yn wynebu mwy o risg. Maent hefyd yn fwy tebygol o ddatblygu diabetes Math 2 os ydynt dros bwysau. Gellid atal neu oedi cynifer â thri o bob pum achos o ddiabetes Math 2 trwy fod yn fwy egnïol, bwyta’n iach a chynnal pwysau iach.
Dywedodd Joseph Cuff, Rheolwr Codi Arian, Diabetes UK Cymru, “Rydym yn gobeithio y bydd pobl ledled Ceredigion yn cael eu hysbrydoli i neidio ar eu beiciau a chymryd rhan yn her Anwen a Helen. Pa un a fyddwch yn ymuno am ychydig filltiroedd neu’r daith gyfan, mae croeso i bawb.”
Gwahoddir y beicwyr i gwrdd y tu allan i Feddygfa’r Borth, gan fod yn barod i gychwyn am 8.00am. Bydd yr her deuluol yn dechrau o Feddygfa Llanilar am 9.30am.
Mae’n costio £30 i gofrestru ar gyfer y brif daith feicio, a £15 ar gyfer her y teulu, a bydd yr holl arian a godir yn mynd i Diabetes UK Cymru.
Bydd Anwen a Helen yn dechrau codi arian gyda chinio ac ocsiwn yn Llanina Arms ddydd Sadwrn 27 Ebrill. Bydd yr eitemau yn yr ocsiwn yn cynnwys crys rygbi’r Sgarlets wedi’i lofnodi, a chrys rygbi Cymru a phêl rygbi wedi’u llofnodi gan y tîm a enillodd Gamp Lawn y Chwe Gwlad, ynghyd â llawer o eitemau eraill a gyfrannwyd trwy garedigrwydd busnesau lleol. Mae’r tocynnau’n costio £25 yr un.
I gael rhagor o wybodaeth am y daith feicio, neu i brynu tocynnau ar gyfer y cinio, cysylltwch ag Anwen ar anwenmai.jones@wales.nhs.uk neu 07964 109694, neu Joseph Cuff ar joseph.cuff@diabetes.org.uk neu 02920 668276.
Help keep news FREE for our readers
Supporting your local community newspaper/online news outlet is crucial now more than ever. If you believe in independent journalism, then consider making a valuable contribution by making a one-time or monthly donation. We operate in rural areas where providing unbiased news can be challenging. Read More About Supporting The West Wales Chronicle