Ik organiseer mijn actie omdat:
I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) at 19. It took me nearly three years to fully grasp what that meant for my life—not just in terms of the daily management, but more specifically, the mental and emotional impact.
What hit me hardest was the loss of a sense of self-sufficiency. As a teenager who valued adventure and independence, accepting that my life now depended on constant medical support was tough. I often explain it like this: if I somehow survived a plane crash and ended up in the wilderness, I wouldn’t last long without access to insulin. It’s not a realistic fear, but it highlights how reliant I am on modern healthcare—something that felt like a huge blow to my identity at the time.
This experience also brought out another, quieter struggle—the feeling that I wasn’t able to do what "healthy" people could. That belief, though, has fuelled my determination to try and live as though nothing is holding me back. That’s what drew me to endurance cycling and adventure racing. It’s my way of proving—mostly to myself—that I can still chase big challenges.
I share both the physical and mental hurdles I face with T1D in the hope that it might help someone else who’s navigating their own path with the condition. Maybe it’ll encourage them to step outside their comfort zone, diabetes-related or not.
Now, 12 years after my diagnosis, I’ve not only learned to live with T1D—I’ve found that in some ways, it’s made my life richer. But that’s only been possible because of the incredible support from my loved ones and access to high-quality healthcare. Not everyone has that, which is why I’ve committed to raising awareness and funds for causes focused on diabetes research, prevention, promoting sports and mental health support.
So follow along on my instagram (jasienharidy) as I take on some questionable cycling challenges—things a diabetic “shouldn’t” do (but maybe should). All in the name of pushing limits, breaking stigma, and hopefully inspiring others to believe they can do more than they think they can! This August I'm taking on Mother North - a 1000km Off-road ultra cycling race through some of the desolate landscapes Norway calls her own - together with my Wife, Genevieve.
