Athlete with Type 1 Diabetes to Cross Sahara in Support of JDRF

MONTREAL, Oct. 15, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - From October 28 to November 3, Sébastien Sasseville , an athlete living with type 1 diabetes (T1D), will compete in an extreme race across Egypt's Sahara Desert. Sasseville is a four-time Ironman participant and has previously climbed to the top of Mount Everest. The Sahara Race is a 250km, seven day, self-supported marathon across the world's largest desert.

A Quebec City native, Sasseville is running in support of JDRF and its mission to cure, better treat, and prevent diabetes. "Research has brought us more effective and accurate tools to help manage diabetes. Without tools my like my insulin, insulin pump, and glucometer, I could have never dreamed of doing something like this."

Despite his success, Sasseville still faces many challenges every day. "Like all people living with type 1 diabetes, my life is a constant balancing act. More research is needed to help improve the quality of our lives and help us fight the risk of long-term complications."

Sasseville is running to inspire and bring hope to others, to show them they can transform challenges into catalysts to make even their boldest dreams come true. "In life, we can make the impossible, possible. We all have a race to run. To get to the finish line, we need to listen to our dreams and work towards them with determination, patience, and consistent efforts."

On May 25, 2008, Sasseville became the first Canadian living with T1D to successfully climb Mount Everest. Time Magazine has described the Sahara Race as one of the world's ten most difficult endurance challenges. Only about 100 participants each year take part in the extreme challenge, during which temperatures can rise to 50 degrees Celsius.

November is Diabetes Awareness Month
November is Diabetes Awareness Month. Currently, over three million Canadians are living with some form of diabetes, more than 300,000 of whom live with T1D.

Supporting Research
Sasseville invites all Canadians to support his race by visiting www.jdrf.ca and making a donation to fund diabetes research.

About JDRF
JDRF is the leading global organization focused on type 1 diabetes (T1D) research. Since its founding in 1970 (1974 in Canada), JDRF has awarded more than $1.6 billion (US) to diabetes research. Past JDRF efforts have helped to significantly advance the care of people with this disease, and have expanded the critical scientific understanding of T1D.

SOURCE: Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation

Resources : www.frdj.ca   www.sebinspire.com   http://www.4deserts.com/sahararace
To schedule an interview with Sébastien Sasseville (before October 21 or after November 6)

Cindy Hoffman
514-744-5537 or cell : 438 870 0733
[email protected]

Erinn Piller
647-789-2368
[email protected]