Association Staffer Sets Sites on Caribbean Challenge!
Marketing and Communications Associate Allison Langridge loves a good challenge and believes in what the Canadian Diabetes Association does and stands for. When presented with the opportunity to run with Team Diabetes in the Cayman Islands Marathon, signing up was a natural fit.
Having this exciting challenge to work towards - her first with Team Diabetes - was an important step in taking her commitment to wellness to the next level. While Allison has made some positive, healthy lifestyle choices in the last few years, including running, when she shared with family members that she joined Team Diabetes some were shocked by the marathon goal ahead of her.
Working for the Association, meeting other Diabetes Champions and learning more about diabetes has further encouraged Allison’s passion to live well. She says that joining Team Diabetes gives her a unique opportunity to give back and support her uncle who has diabetes, while also pushing herself personally on many levels.
She likes the fact that she is going outside of her comfort zone. She believes others who may feel shy about joining owe it to themselves to take a chance and push themselves. “Sometimes you have to do something that scares you,” she says.
You wouldn’t guess she is outside her comfort zone, though. Allison is off to a great start thanks to working at both fundraising and training a little bit every day. Whether following up with her contacts for donations, or pushing herself to train that extra few minutes, the daily successes, no matter how small, keep her motivated.
The steady support and words of encouragement from friends and family also help keep her focused on the finish line. Seeing people spread the word about her campaign has been inspiring and she is delighted by those she least expected to donate coming forward with generous pledges. Her personal trainer, who also has diabetes in her family, has come aboard as a lead champion. She is determined to not only help Allison get extra fit for the marathon, but to also organize some fundraising events on her behalf.
When she crosses the finish line on Grand Cayman she’ll have many people to thank and many reasons to celebrate. She will have reached her fundraising and training goals; gained a deeper understanding of the impact of fundraising for the Association; attained a greater respect for the importance of physical activity; and met many amazing Team Diabetes team members along the way.
How to top that? Well, she will be celebrating her birthday, also in December, in this stunning, tropical setting. A fine way to cap off an incredible, eight-month journey!