Running with Determination: Surrey local, Carrie-Anne’s Journey of Resilience and Hope
Carrie-Anne, 47, lives with her husband of nearly 28 years and their four grown children: Joe, Oliver, Rose and George. Life for her has always been full, but running only became part of her story four years ago. Using the Couch to 5K programme, she began building her strength and confidence step by step. Before that, she jokes, she could not even run for a bus and now, next month she is taking on the London Landmarks Half Marathon!
This year, Carrie-Anne is running to raise funds for Diabetes UK, a cause that is deeply personal. She has lived with type 1 diabetes since the age of nine and now experiences neuropathy in her hands and feet, along with partial sight loss. The daily reality of managing her condition has been challenging, yet it has also shaped her determination to keep moving forward. She hopes that ongoing research will one day lead to a cure and prevent others from facing similar obstacles.
Carrie-Anne runs with her guide runner, Emma, who supports her every step of the way. With Emma by her side, the miles become not only achievable but empowering. Running has become a powerful form of self-belief for Carrie-Anne. Each run, no matter the distance, reminds her that determination can overcome even the toughest obstacles.
Since starting with Couch to 5K, she has steadily built her running journey. Every step has reinforced her resilience and positivity, proving that diabetes does not define her limits. Running has become more than a physical challenge; it has become a testament to her refusal to let her condition dictate what she can achieve.
For Carrie-Anne, each run carries meaning. It is a celebration of progress, a tribute to perseverance and a message to others living with type 1 diabetes: with determination and support, nothing is out of reach.