In 1999, Diabetes Ireland were the very first diabetes related national charity in the world to bring a group of people with diabetes to the summit of Kilimanjaro. And I'm proud to say there was a Clare man among them back then. We featured Michael Murphy's account of that climb a couple of months ago. This year, Co. Clare will double that representation on Diabetes Ireland’s trek to Kilimanjaro with a type 1 diabetes sibling duo from the small east Clare village of Broadford.

Diarmuid and Michelle Moloney both have type 1 diabetes. Diarmuid, now aged 21, was diagnosed 2008 and Michelle, now 27, was diagnosed six years later in 2014.

Michelle is a primary school teacher in Dublin and Diarmuid is a recent graduate in physical education and Irish from University of Limerick.

The trip will take place from Thursday September 21st until Sunday October 1st. The expedition will last 10 days and walks/treks will accumulate over 100km with the summit being 5,895m (the highest free standing mountain in the world). Diabetes Ireland said; “Our trip in 2016 was hugely successful from both a fundraising point of view and the number of people reaching the summit. 20 of our group of 21, including 6 with Type 1 Diabetes and 1 with Type 2 Diabetes all reached the summit… an incredible achievement by the group.”

Prior to the expedition, Diarmuid and Michelle need to raise a total of €10,000 between them, €6,000 of which they have. This money will go towards Diabetes Ireland's continuous efforts in areas of advocacy, research and education around the condition.

They also want to raise awareness about type 1 diabetes and I thought the best way to help them achieve this is to share their plans with the diabetes online community. So that you too can share their story. They have a facebook page set up to keep everyone updated - Michelle & Diarmuids Kilimanjaro Trek for Diabetes Ireland

Let’s give their page a couple of hundred Facebook Likes and welcome them to the wonderful diabetes online community.