Robyn Fraser and her son, Fraser Trainor, have decided to tackle the furthest distance possible in the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation’s Ride to Cure Diabetes, through the Barossa Valley on January 17.

 Their motivation: the health of 14-year-old daughter and sister Evelyn, who was diagnosed with type one diabetes last year.

Robyn said her family was shocked to discover Evelyn, a healthy and sporty teenager, had diabetes.

If the 45-year-old fitness fanatic wasn’t motivated enough before the news, she most certainly is now. 

“We found out on September 27. Evelyn was 13-years old,” Robyn said.

“There was no family history so it knocked us all sideways. 

“We thought she might have had glandular fever.

“It is quite manageable and Evelyn’s positive attitude towards it is amazing. I know I sometimes forget diabetes can be life-threatening, let alone the other side effects.

“But you don’t get a break from diabetes. It is there every day. Evelyn has to prick her fingers many times a day to test her blood sugar levels, sometimes at 3am, swap from pump to insulin pens, and micro manage everything she eats and put catheters in her tummy for the lines to her insulin pump.” 

Robyn and Fraser have two challenges at present. The first is to train for their long ride: Robyn has only been riding seriously since March last year when she got a road bike, while 16-year-old Fraser started in September and his longest ride to date is an 80-kilometre round trip to Clunes.

The second is to raise $2000 to participate in the ride, which is part of the fund-raiser which has raised about $9 million in more than a decade for medical research into type one diabetes. Evelyn won’t ride in the Barossa but has not let diabetes stop her from being involved in sport.

After her diagnosis, she took up footy and was runner-up best and fairest with Lake Wendouree’s youth girls team.

“Team Evelyn” is hosting a sausage sizzle and afternoon of music at the Lake View Hotel on November 2 from 11am to 3pm, featuring acoustic duo Bee and Bill and solo performer Rachel Lawrey.

Entry is by gold coin donation.

Donations can also be made at jdrf.org.au/ride by following the links to “Team Evelyn”.

gavin.mcgrath@fairfaxmedia.com.au