TWO members of Malvern Joggers are taking part in a race to boost the understanding of diabetes and set a new world record.

Judy Finney and Ian Fuller are running the JCP Swansea Half Marathon on Sunday, June 24, as part of a team of people with Type 1 diabetes.

The team will set a new world record for the most number of people with Type 1 Diabetes running the same half marathon.

Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disease where the pancreas stops producing insulin, leading to high levels of sugar in the blood.

Left untreated, it can cause a life-threatening medical emergency and serious complications including heart disease and blindness.

Team members are taking part in research carried out by Professor Rob Andrews of the University of Exeter and the Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, into the effect of endurance running on Type 1 Diabetes.

Ian and Judy said: “As keen runners we were really excited to take part in this study. We know exercise and fitness can help with general health, well-being and our diabetes, but understanding more about the impact it has on us for future races and our overall diabetic control will be a huge bonus to us and other people living with Type 1 Diabetes in the future too."