A Canadian teacher will be heading to Reykjavik in August 2008 in the hopes of helping scientists come one step closer to finding a cure for diabetes. Hare Nehring-Willson, a 35-year old mother and elementary school teacher, is training for the 2008 Reykjavik Glitnir Marathon and raising money for the Canadian Diabetes Association (CDA).
Nehring-Willson joined Team Diabetes, a group which helps people raise funds and run marathons in order to raise awareness and money for diabetes.
“I am doing this for not only the completion of a personal goal, but also to support the CDA,” says Nehring-Willson.
Nehring-Willson said she first wanted to participate in the Icelandic event after seeing footage of the event last year on television. “Some guy in his 50s was participating and I thought, ‘if he can do it, so can I,’ ” she said.
Although Nehring-Willson is seriously training for the event, she hopes her participation will help more people become aware of the disease and how it affects the lives of two million people in Canada. “Diabetes doesn’t get the same publicity as other diseases because you can live with it,” says Nehring-Willson.
The Reykjavik Glitnir Marathon will be held on August 23rd 2008.