Duplicate 4The Scenic Rim is famous for its beautiful hiking paths, but Flagstone man Tyson Major has been hitting the trails for a special cause.
In 2017, Tyson received a shock diagnosis of type one diabetes at 30 years old.
In August, he will be hiking the Kokoda trail with the Type 1 Foundation to raise funds for people living with the incurable condition.
Tyson said he struggled after his diagnosis, which came as “a massive shock”.
“My mental health suffered quite a bit. I went to a dark place and spent the last few years with depression,” he said.
His diagnosis was prompted by a sudden onslaught of symptoms that went on for six weeks.
“I started to feel quite sick. I was drinking 10 to 15 litres of water a day and probably going to the toilet that many times a day as well,” Tyson said.
“I had all the classic signs that I didn’t know were type one diabetes symptoms back then, like extreme dehydration.”
It all culminated when Tyson suddenly lost vision while driving a work truck.
“My vision went blurry from the amount of sugar that was in my blood,” he said.
“That prompted me to go to the doctor’s and they sent me straight to the local hospital. I spent a couple of weeks in ICU and came out diagnosed as a type one diabetic.”
With no previous symptoms or family history of diabetes, the diagnosis was a complete surprise.
“Just luck of the draw, I guess,” Tyson said.
The charity trek with the Type 1 Foundation provided Tyson with the perfect opportunity to give back and get his spirits up.
“Ever since my diagnosis, I wanted to raise money for type one diabetes, so I jumped at the chance,” Tyson said.
From Flinders Peak to Mount Barney and Mount Joyce, Tyson has been building up his fitness by hiking all the best peaks across the Scenic Rim.
“When they announced the trek in October 2022 I weighed about 140 kilos,” Tyson said.
“I then hit the pavement around Flagstone and Jimboomba 10 to 15 kilometres a day, losing to this date about 38 kilos.
“Now every weekend I summit a mountain in the Scenic Rim. I’ve got about 300 kilometres of hiking under my belt in preparation.”
Training for the project has also helped with his mental health.
“Getting out there on the trails with mates and the community support from Jimboomba, Beaudesert and Flagstone has lifted my spirits,” Tyson said.
“I feel like I’m ready, all this training will help me enjoy the track.”
Tyson’s fundraiser page can be found at: gofund.me/9389f806
