Tataskweyak woman's 900-km diabetes awareness run reaches finish line in Winnipeg

After more than 900 kilometres, a Tataskweyak Cree Nation woman reached the finish line of a run across Manitoba to raise awareness about diabetes in Indigenous communities.

Tamara Beardy, who is a member of the northeastern Manitoba First Nation (also known as Split Lake), left the community on Aug. 13 on her awareness-raising run.

She finished Saturday at Oodena Celebration Circle at The Forks in Winnipeg, flanked by family, a fellow runner and other supporters, including a large group of young people who a  made the trip from Tataskweyak Cree Nation — about 125 kilometres east of the northern Manitoba city of Thompson — to Winnipeg to help her finish the run.

"It's such a thing to take on something like this when you don't have a big organization behind you," said Beardy. "But you know what, my people are my organization — I'm very thankful for that." 

Her daughter, Kenya, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes 11 years ago. The "scary" diagnosis made Beardy feel like she was going to lose her daughter, and she found it hard to access support in northern Manitoba, she previously told CBC.

"It's not easy living with diabetes, being a caregiver. You don't ever take breaks," she said Saturday. "It's challenging, so I have a heart for all illnesses and challenges that we face as people."

Beardy now lives in Winnipeg and works with the University of Manitoba as a research co-ordinator, focusing on diabetes prevention in youth.

Manitoba has a high rate of diabetes among young people, she said, and she hopes to find ways to help.

She was also inspired to see so many young people join her for the end of her run in Winnipeg on Saturday.

"I think that's the most beautiful thing is to see the young ones because that's my goal, is to