Hannah Mills

Im walking 8kms per day in March for Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 Diabetes isn’t something I read about or hear second-hand, its’s something I live with every single day. When I was diagnosed, my life changed instantly, and so did my parents’.

There are no breaks, no sick days, and no moments where it gets put on pause. Type 1 Diabetes is constant decision-making, monitoring, planning, correcting, and adjusting , not just for me, but for the people who support me every single day. My parents learned to worry in new ways, to be alert at all hours, and to adapt alongside me. It’s a journey no family ever expects to be on, but one may find themselves navigating together. You can’t see the finger pricks, the injections, the insulin pump boluses, the CGMs, the alarms, the late nights, or the constant mental load that comes with managing it every day. Life still happens, birthdays, holidays, milestone events, even while something so demanding runs quietly in the background.

I’m doing this fundraiser not only to raise money, but for my younger self. The one who felt embarrassed about being diabetic. The one who tried to hide injections and insulin pump boluses, who would remove her CGM if anyone could see it, and who carried the mental load quietly, feeling like she had to be “normal” and not stand out. The one who used to join fundraisers, but stopped because she was too ashamed and scared of being noticed. That younger me felt isolated, overwhelmed, and tired of feeling different, but also powerless to change it. Type 1 Diabetes doesn’t go away. It isn’t a phase, and it isn’t something you outgrow. But it is also nothing to be ashamed of. This year, I’m starting again, standing up for myself, for that younger version of me, and for everyone whose life has been changed by diabetes. If I could tell that younger me anything, it would be: it’s okay to be seen, it’s okay to feel vulnerable, and your strength doesn’t need to be hidden.

I’m also fundraising for my parents. For the ones who have been with me from the very beginning, even before I fully understood what was happening, back when I was just 5 years old. They learned to navigate diabetes care from day one, carrying the constant worry, sleepless nights, and emotional load that never truly goes away. It’s heartbreaking to watch your child navigate diabetes care, knowing every decision could have consequences, and feeling both helpless and responsible at the same time. They have celebrated my victories, soothed my fears, and stood by me through every setback, all while caring for me as a person, not just someone with diabetes. Their love, resilience, and quiet strength have shaped my journey, and this fundraiser is for them too. To honor the sacrifices and courage that Type 1 Diabetes often makes invisible

In Australia, 8 people are diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes every single day. That’s 8 individuals, and 8 families, whose lives are instantly changed, just like ours was. That’s why I’m walking 8kms every day in March, to represent each new daily diagnoses, and each person behind those diagnoses.

I’m fundraising to support research, education, and better care for people living with Type 1 Diabetes. Progress has already been made, but there’s still so much more to be done, better technology, better access, better treatments, and hopefully a cure. My generation may not get to see a cure, but hopefully my kids will.

This cause is incredibly close to my heart. Every donation, no matter how big or small, helps support not just those living with Type 1 Diabetes, but the families who walk alongside them.

If you’re able to donate, thank you from the bottom of my heart. If you can’t, sharing this page or helping spread awareness still makes a real difference.

Together, we can support the 8 Australians diagnosed every day, and help create a future where Type 1 Diabetes doesn’t define lives. 

Thank you for supporting me and this cause.