Lifelong friends run to fight “horrible disease”
Two lifelong friends will run side-by-side to raise money for a cause close to their hearts.
Louise Matthews, 47, and Kay Watson, 48, have known each since they were three and still live in Guisborough where they grew up.
They also work together at Jean’s Kitchen in Middlesbrough’s Dundas Indoor Market. Louise started there when she was 16 and is now the manager. Kay came to help out when the café was short-staffed and 21 years later hasn’t left.
Nearly a decade ago mum-of-two Louise joined a running group and discovered it was the ideal way for her to exercise and wind down after a hectic day at work.
Since then she has run the London Marathon twice as well as the Edinburgh Marathon and eight Great North Runs, raising thousands of pounds for local charities in the process.
In April Louise will compete in the London Landmarks Half Marathon and will be joined by novice runner Kay – who also has two children and has just become a grandmother – and three other friends from Guisborough. They’re running on behalf of Diabetes UK.
Kay’s daughter Sian, now 20, was diagnosed with the most serious form of the disease – Type 1 – when she was just 18-months-old. Kay’s sister, nephew and cousin also have Type 1 and two years ago she was told that she had Type 2.
“The doctor said you can reverse it with exercise and diet. My blood pressure was sky high and I was told it’s a wonder I hadn’t had a stroke,” said Kay.
“And I thought, for a 45-year-old, it’s shocking to live a life like that. What if something happens to me? Who’s going to look after my kids? So I started going to the gym. I’d always hated exercise, but I went to morning classes at six o’clock Monday to Friday. My fitness got better, my weight came down and I’ve reversed it.”
“It’s turned her life around,” said Louise. “Kay’s been the cheerleader for me, always supporting me on my runs. She’s done so well so far, now it’s time for the next step.”
Kay is busy training for her biggest challenge whilst continuing to worry about Sian who gave birth to a baby girl at Christmas. Lola-Kay was born prematurely, a common occurrence when mums are diabetic, and has only just been allowed home from hospital.
“People perhaps don’t realise the seriousness of diabetes and how it affects people in so many different ways,” said Kay. “It’s an awful, horrible disease.”
She hopes her, Louise and the rest of their running team will help increase awareness of diabetes as well as raise money. “I would like to think that the money that everybody raises will one day help to find a cure or provide an easier lifestyle, because they have to live with it every day.”