Twin sisters take on the height of Mount Everest for Diabetes UK
Two twin sisters from Exeter are taking on the challenge of climbing the height of Mount Everest, completely blindfolded, to raise money for Diabetes UK.
Juliet and Lauren Sawyer will climb 8,849 metres throughout April, the height of Mount Everest, with a blindfold on for every single climb, on roped walls and outdoor moors.
The pair from Devon want to raise funds for people living with diabetes and awareness of diabetes as one of the leading causes of preventable sight loss among adults in the UK.
Juliet said: “I've been living with type 1 diabetes since 2005. The past few years have been increasingly challenging since I developed diabetic retinopathy, a complication of diabetes, which is sometimes called diabetic eye disease. With this in mind, I wanted to do something to really push myself – to show that I can still achieve things despite living with diabetes.
“Most people don't realise that diabetes is a leading cause of preventable sight loss in the UK. We can't expect this issue to be solved if people don't even realise it's an issue in the first place. So, I hope this challenge gets some true recognition out there for myself and other people living with diabetes.”
Juliet and Lauren have both been avid climbers for over 15 years and want to use their shared hobby as a chance to create positive change and raise awareness. The 8,849 metre challenge will require them to climb every single day across April.
Diabetic retinopathy is a serious complication of diabetes. It can lead to sight loss, but finding and treating it early reduces the risk. 1 in 3 people with diabetes will develop some form of vision loss during their lifetime.
Phaedra Perry, Head of South West and Central at Diabetes UK, said: “This is an incredible challenge to raise awareness of diabetes and its serious complications such as retinopathy. We are so grateful to Juliet and Lauren for taking on this unique challenge to support us to fund research for new treatments, campaign for better care and provide support to people living with diabetes.”
Lauren said: “As we are both climbers, we thought this would be a brilliant way to do something a bit different, create something positive and inspire people, but more importantly, highlight the issues that people living with diabetes face every day.”
Juliet and Lauren are also inviting others to join them for a climbing session and contribute to the climbathon. Any climbs alongside the pair, blindfolded, will also be counted towards the 8,849 metre goal. The pair will be taking on the challenge at local climbing gyms including Exeter Hangar and Quay Climbing.
For more information visit or to donate visit www.justgiving.com/page/blindfold-everest
