Man to run London Marathon dressed as human insulin pump

A father whose son has type 1 diabetes is gearing up to run this weekend’s London Marathon dressed as a human-sized insulin pump.
If that challenge was not enough, Mark Conlin is also hoping to achieve a Guinness World Record as the fastest medical device at the world-famous race.
Mr Conli, 47, who is from Derbyshire, signed up to participate on behalf of the type 1 diabetes charity JDRF, which funds research into the condition and aims to eventually find a cure.
His son Matthew was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes more than six years ago aged just six.
Speaking to the Burton Mail newspaper, Mr Conlin said: “Last year I dressed as a dinosaur so this year I thought it was fitting to dress as the device which keeps Matthew alive 24/7.”
Mr Conlin has already donned the costume for a 10K race in Cardiff and recently completed the Derby 10K. However, those races and the forthcoming marathon are just a warm-up for July’s epic challenge, where he will take part in Pembrokeshire’s Long Course Weekend which includes a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile cycle and a marathon across three days.
Speaking on his Just Giving page Mr Conlin said that life has not been the same since his son’s diagnosis.
“Since then we, as do 30,000 other parents and carers in the UK live, with the shadow of type 1 diabetes. This is one of the only conditions where a child is often responsible for administering a potential lethal drug numerous times a day, seven days per week.
“I committed to help Matthew find a cure for this condition and in 2014 I ran my first marathon. I have since continued to test the limits of my body to raise awareness of the condition and to help raise funds to support the JDRF find a cure. I attempted a world record for Matthew last year, someone beat me to it so I have unfinished business.”
So far he has raised more than £2,000 and those who would like to donate to Mr Conlin’s cause can do so here.
Picture: JDRF