Olympic athlete Melanie Stephenson-Gray, who represented Wales at London 2012, has been appointed as a Trustee to the Board of Diabetes UK.
Diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of 13, sprinter Stephenson-Gray, now 32, has been an ambassador and supporter of diabetes charities for more than a decade. She has played a significant role as an advocate and organiser of projects for children living with Type 1 diabetes and their families.
In 2013, Stephenson-Gray set up the Blue Circle Diabetes peer support group in Cardiff, recognising the importance of improving mental health support for young people with Type 1 diabetes. Although still involved in athletics, she retrained as a dietitian and now works at NHS Wales, specialising in diabetes and weight management.
Stephenson-Gray says, “I am absolutely thrilled to have been appointed to the role of Trustee for Diabetes UK. It’s a huge privilege to be involved in supporting the charity in this way and representing the interests of people affected by diabetes. Since being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes myself in 2001, volunteering and giving back over the last decade has been an incredibly rewarding experience, and I look forward to continuing with this within the role.
Early this year, Stephenson-Gray presented the Elizabeth Evans Hughes medal at Diabetes UK Cymru’s Children and Type 1 Diabetes Day event at the Senedd. She created lockdown exercise plans to share on social media, fundraised for the 1 Million Step Challenge and was a speaker at the Type 1 and Tech Conference on World Diabetes Day.
