By NICOLE VALICEK
MOST people can remember riding a bicycle for the first time as a child.
For Chris Till, cycling is a passion that stayed with him well into his adult life, so much so he even works in the bike industry.
“It’s been a love affair for 20 years,” Mr Till said.
Mr Till, who works in Altona North, is a member of the Hypoactive Murray to Moyne cycle team.
Hypoactive recently competed in the event which challenges teams to complete 520 kilometres of cycling in under 24 hours across western Victoria.
The 16-member strong team all have one thing in common – each of the participants has type one diabetes.
Mr Till was diagnosed with type one diabetes at the age of three and said he enjoyed the freedom of the bicycle and cycling for fitness.
“Riding a bike gives me great pleasure and helps control my diabetes – that makes my family, my wife and two young kids happy. I ride for myself but in the long-term I’m riding for them.”
The cycling enthusiast said the team was a positive role model for diabetics everywhere, proving their ability is not limited by the condition.
“It’s a big ride and the additional management of the diabetes adds that extra element of challenge.”
“Diabetes shouldn’t be a barrier to anything.”
This year the team raised more than $8000 for their selected charity, Diabetes Australia-Victoria.
Mr Till said the money raised will go towards funding a diabetes camp run for children aged four to 17 living with type one diabetes that he attended as a child.
“It’s a tremendously reaffirming activity … you are not alone in having diabetes and it should not stop you doing anything.”
He said many of the camp leaders had diabetes themselves and were positive role models for children proving “you can be anything you want to be”.
