A family’s trek for type 1 diabetes awareness – Q&A

We recently had the pleasure of catching up with John Rynehart, the proud father of a remarkable 14-year-old daughter, Annabelle, who navigates the daily challenges of living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) every day. 

On 5 August 2024, John and his son Seb are setting off on a bold seven-day trek to Mount Kilimanjaro filled with both physical and emotional trials. Their journey is deeply personal and driven by Annabelle’s inspiring journey with T1D, a challenge she has faced for the past five years. The trek will be both a test of endurance and a strong commitment to raising awareness and funds for JDRF Australia. It reflects their pride and support for Annabelle and the T1D community. 

Discover more about their fundraising efforts on their page here. 

In this article, we’ll delve into John’s story, explore what motivates this trek, and understand the powerful message he hopes to share with others living with T1D. 

Let’s dive in! 

What is your inspiration to undertake this physical challenge and why choose to fundraise for JDRF? 

My daughter was diagnosed with T1D five years ago and we wanted to raise awareness and funding. 

Despite the challenges she faces, Annabelle has refused to let her condition define her and continues to embrace a positive outlook on life. She faces a never-ending cycle of blood sugar monitoring, insulin dosing, and careful management of diet and exercise. 

Even with the best medical care and management tools available, there are always unexpected highs and lows in blood sugar levels that can have serious consequences if not managed properly. 

The physical and mental toll of living with T1D is never ending and exhausting. 

She’s an inspiration to us each and every day. This trek is a way to show how proud we are of her.  

Is Annabelle joining you for any part of the trip? What does she think of you trekking it for her?  

My son Seb and I are doing this trek together, and Annabelle wants to do it with me next year. She thinks it’s great and has been inspired by it all. Annabelle has been keeping herself fit as well while we’ve been training. It will be very special doing it together and something we will cherish for the rest of our lives. 

What specific challenges do you anticipate facing during the trek, considering Annabelle’s journey and the multiple challenges she has faced since her T1D diagnosis? 

We expect the summit to be the toughest, along with the cold conditions. We know what mental resilience is needed to manage diabetes, and we will draw on the inspiration we see from Annabelle every day. We are filled with excitement and anticipation, not sure what to expect as it is our first time doing this type of thing. Although we are trying to keep in mind during this trek that no matter how hard it gets, there is a way to stay positive and move forward. The cause is so important to us, so we are driven to succeed.    

What message do you hope to convey to others who live with T1D through this climb, or their parents who might be inspired by you?  

It’s important to raise awareness and understanding. Doing fundraisers like this all counts, and we should all be part of supporting the T1D community.   

How do you plan to celebrate this achievement, both at the summit and once you return home?  

We’ll have Rufus with us at the summit to celebrate, and we can’t wait to spend time with friends and family when we have successfully completed the challenge.  

The funds you raised will support JDRF’s Mission – accelerating life-changing breakthroughs to cure, treat, and prevent type 1 diabetes – and Vision – a world without T1D. What would a cure mean to you personally? 

Everything. There is so much effort being put into a cure, and we are proud to be playing a small part.  

Thank you to JDRF for all the support, it has been incredible to have you as part of this journey.  

Also, a big thank you to everyone who has helped and supported us along the way, particularly my wife Jo. 

We can’t wait to hear back about John’s adventure! 

You can see more of his story and follow on his journey to Mount Kilimanjaro at his Instagram 

Support John in reaching his fundraising goal for T1D research! Click here to contribute.