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Jason Holtvogt started his 4X4X48 run for Type 1 diabetes research at 8 p.m. on Friday evening. Around 4:55 p.m. on August 1, he crossed the finish line to finish his last four miles. (Becky Zimmer/northeastNOW Staff)
Running for a cure

Holtvogt’s 4X4X48 journey mirrors that of his own Type 1 diabetes family

Aug 2, 2021 | 12:05 PM

It was an emotional day for Humboldt’s Jason Holtvogt, his family and his supporters as he completed his 4X4X48 run for Type 1 diabetes awareness and research

Holtvogt started his run at 8 p.m. on July 30 and ran four miles every four hours for a total of 48 miles over a 48 hour period, crossing the finish line held by two of his four children at 4:54 p.m. on Aug. 1.

Holtvogt knew the immensity of the challenge as he trained for months to prepare for the marathon. However, the journey he took in honour of his daughter, Aubree; who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in July 2018 at the age of four, is no different than the journey of many Type 1 diabetes families, Holtvogt’s included.

Jason Holtvogt and daughter, Aubree, before the superhero run on July 31. (Becky Zimmer/northeastNOW Staff)

“It’s just four miles over and over again, just like getting up every night, checking insulin, it’s just checking your insulin, it’s just given a dose insulin, it’s just checking on them. But it doesn’t quit.”

Even with runs at 12 a.m. and 4 a.m., Holtvogt never ran the Humboldt Wildlife Trail alone. Both runners, walkers, and bikers accompanied him, including his sons, Seth, Brady, and Landyn, and family friends, some of which missed only a few of the 12 total runs.

This is the message he wants other Type 1 diabetics and their families to have throughou their own journeys; you are not going through this alone.

“We’re all going through this, it’s just letting everyone know that we’re with you. We’re up at 12 at night, we’re up at four in the morning checking sugars. We’re right there with you.”

Holtvogt had the easy part this weekend, he said, with his wife Deanna still getting up and checking Aubree’s sugars every four hours as well as looking after their three boys.

Life didn’t stop while he focused on the run, he said.

The superhero themed run at 8 p.m. on July 31 was dedicated to those everyday heroes that look after themselves and their loved ones on a four hour schedule.

Holtvogt thanked his supporters for joining him, most of which in costume and Holtvogt in a blue tutu to represent his daughter.

“It’s not everyday you get to run around in a cape.”

“It’s not everyday you get to run around in a cape,” said Jason Holtvogt before leading his supporters in a four mile run at 8 p.m. on July 31. (Becky Zimmer/northeastNOW Staff)

When Aubree was first diagnosed, they had a whole team behind them to train them for this marathon that is living with Type 1 diabetes, said Holtvogt. Training for this marathon was no different, as he had numerous supporters behind him in local healthcare professionals that backed his training, as well as local businesses that wanted to support the run and other Type 1 diabetes families that are all waiting for a cure.

Preparing for the run, Holtvogt said it also shone a positive light on his own health as a parent and how they have to look after themselves as well.

While the run is now complete, Holtvogt said him and his team will continue fundraising until the end of August. All funds raised will go towards the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation Canada (DRIFCan) in Edmonton and Dr. James Shapiro and his team who are working on a cure for Type 1 diabetes using stem cell research.

To have a cure would be life changing for Holtvogt and his family and knowing that is a possibility, how do you put that feeling into words, he said.

‘If you look at what our everyday life is; if we could go out at the end of the night, and take the kids for a treat and not count carbs, go to sleep at night with the confidence that your daughter’s okay, and you’ll wake up in the morning and nothing bad will have happened, it’s the psychological part of it that changes everything.”

becky.zimmer@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @bex_zim

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