Stuntman With Type 1 Diabetes In Extreme Rally, UK

Main Category: Diabetes
Article Date: 27 Mar 2009 - 0:00 PDT

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Extreme sports fanatic and professional stuntman Olly Rowland, 20, is about to embark on a 20,000-mile endurance rally to Mongolia in a vintage car, to raise funds for Diabetes UK.

Olly, who has Type 1 diabetes, will set off on the trip this summer in a 1972 Hillman Imp.

Determined

Olly was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes during his final year of A-levels, aged 17. "I was determined not to let diabetes prevent me fulfilling my dream of becoming a stuntman," he explains.

Olly is now one of Britain's youngest stuntmen and is currently working as a stunt horse-rider in Ridley Scott's new film, Robin Hood.

His regular training includes trampolining, motorcycling, scuba diving, karate, rock-climbing and kayaking.

The Mongol Rally

Olly will be joined on the rally by his friend, Frank Claydon, who has a passion for Hillman Imps and is studying Motorsport Engineering at the Metropolitan University in Swansea. The boys are both from Brentwood in Essex and have been friends since the age of 11.

The Mongol Rally sets off on 18 July from Goodwood Race Track. Olly and Frank are hoping to raise money for three charities: Diabetes UK, Cancer Research UK and the Christina Noble Children's Foundation.

Visit the boys' website for more information on the trip or sponsor the boys online.

Diabetes preparations

The Hillman Imp that is to be their 'home' for four weeks will also power a small fridge to store Olly's insulin.

He controls his diabetes using an insulin pen for fast-acting insulin before meals and long-acting insulin before bed.

Source
Diabetes UK

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