The Manx Diabetic Group has provided funding of £2,500 to a professional cyclist who has type-1 diabetes.

The sponsorship will provide an important boost for Sam Brand’s career as he prepares for his next block of races.

Sam, who rides for Team Novo Nordisk, recently completed the Milan-San Remo in Italy - the longest professional one-day race in the world.

His team will be competing in the Tour of California next month with other ’big’ races in Poland and Denmark coming up in the near future.

’The Manx Diabetic Group (MDG) has given me the ability to take the next step in my training, which I’m so grateful for,’ he said. ’This sponsorship will be going towards equipment not supplied to the team, and other things such as training camps.

’The MDG has been phenomenal and its support has been huge for me. To be able to represent them when I’m away and give back to them in this way is great.’

Joanne Clague, chairman of the charity, said: ’I’m really thrilled that we can do this because he’s helped us so much in our Monitors4Kids campaign. He’s just a fantastic ambassador for type-1 diabetes and an inspiration to the young people.

’We do have a budget for sports so type-1 and type-2 diabetics in the island who need help to further their sporting careers.

’If they’re going across for training, we can look at that and we can offer some funding to them.’

Last week Sam won the title of Sports Ambassador of the Year at the Isle of Man Sports Awards. See page 32.

He said: ’For me, I don’t do what I do for MDG and Monitors4Kids to get anything in return I just enjoy doing it. I get as much inspiration from everybody as the MDG gets from me. It’s nice to have that mutual connection.’