A dad has completed the “scary challenge” of running the length of the M1 to raise awareness of Type 1 diabetes after his son’s diagnosis.

Jamie Austin, 49, from East Finchley, said he was “blown away” by the support he had received for his run.

He completed the 220-mile route from Garforth near Leeds to Brent Cross on Saturday (February 4).

The motorway challenge, which started on January 23, raised more than £11,000 for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Jamie’s 12-year-old son Henry was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in June 2020.

Ham & High: Jamie Austin with his son Henry, wife Rachel and daughter Rosie Jamie Austin with his son Henry, wife Rachel and daughter Rosie (Image: PA Media)

The M1 was chosen because the father and son have had to regularly drive up the motorway to attend a clinical trial at Sheffield Children’s Hospital.

Jamie said he wanted to take on the challenge to raise awareness of the condition and let his son know how proud he was of him for dealing with the news “brilliantly”.

He told the PA news agency: “I’m thrilled to have completed my hare-brained project, despite the challenges, I have loved every minute.

“It reminded me of the importance of just going for something. I don’t have a running background and I really didn’t know if I’d finish when I set off, but I am so pleased that I decided to take on a big, random and slightly scary challenge.

“More than anything, I am grateful to my whole family…, my absolutely first-class friends for their amazing support, my lovely neighbours and school teams, and everyone who sponsored and supported me.

“I’ve been absolutely blown away by the support and people have been so generous.”

Jamie had only run a half marathon and jogged shorter distances at weekends before the challenge.

But he ended up running about 22 miles per day during the challenge, taking a route alongside the motorway itself for safety.

To help document his days running, Jamie has been creating daily TikTok videos, filming along his route.

@jamieaaustin

 

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A constant appearance in the videos is his running companion – Henry’s first cuddly toy monkey, Monkey.

Jamie said that Henry received Monkey as a present when he was a baby and they were “inseparable for many years”.

He added: “I thought it would be nice to have that reminder of Henry wherever I’m going.

To contribute to Mr Austin’s fundraising page visit: www.justgiving.com/page/m1-for-t1.