An Edinburgh woman will embark on a 24-hour long walk between Edinburgh and Glasgow to raise money and awareness of diabetes after finding out she had the chronic disease.
Aspiring actress, Fatima Jawara has lived in the capital or almost seven years, and was a student when she found out she had type one diabetes in 2018, just before going on skiing trip.
The 24-year-old’s hike will begin at Glasgow Queen Street on February 9 and will conclude at Edinburgh Waverley train station the next day just in time for her birthday.
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She told Edinburgh Live: “I am not the most active person on social media and I don’t actively talk about myself on social media. It being the five-year anniversary and the fact that my 25th birthday is coming I found myself doing a lot of self-reflection.
“I thought raising awareness about diabetes and because it is a complicated condition that affects a lot of different aspects of my life. I think it’s the right time to raise awareness of diabetes now.”
Fatima went onto talk about when she discovered she had diabetes after experiencing major weight loss, feeling thirsty and constantly needing to go to the toilet.
Fatima’s mother and sister are medical professionals and raised major concerns about her symptoms when she was suffering.
After a quick blood test, Fatima was rushed to hospital and was quickly diagnosed with type one diabetes, she said: “I think it was a relief that I found out that I was being diagnosed. I didn’t feel annoyed or upset but this explained why I have been feeling so rubbish.”
“I’m so glad that I’ve got access to modern technology with medicines and insulin, it makes it easy and makes it bearable.”
Fatima has “started making a tradition” of raising money for charity when she reaches a significant age with her even doing a skydive on her 21st birthday.
Fatima’s will embark on her hike along the Fourth and Clyde canal from Glasgow through Falkirk then joining the Union canal to Edinburgh.
You can donate to Fatima here
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