Meriem Daoui

In this episode I talk to Meriem Daoui, a Moroccan born, Australian type 1 diabetic who is an elite long-distance runner who resides in Tasmania, Australia.

Meriem was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when she was 8 years old after moving to Australia when she was 4. Meriem and her family originally moved to Sydney in New South Wales and then moved to the picturesque southern state of Tasmania later where Meriem then discovered her love for running.

Meriem was identified as a promising runner who went on to be coached and is now one of Australia’s elite female runners and probably one of the humblest.

The world needs more people like Meriem in it. Meriem is uniquely selfless with her fund raising for people in need in Syria and is currently raising money for the Tasmanian cancer council and oncology outpatients at the Royal Hobart hospital.

In the episode, we discuss Meriem’s struggles and triumphs with mental illness and her exposure to bullying when she was younger and its impact on her diabetes. Meriem’s courage to discuss her mental health openly with me was truly admirable as it’s a topic that’s seldom easy to talk about.

I interviewed Meriem the night before she raced the Point to Pinnacle which is the world’s toughest half marathon as it has just over 1,270 meters in elevation. Meriem went on to win her division and claim the 4thoverall female position.

If you’re interesting in supporting Meriem’s fundraising for the Cancer Council, the link to the fundraising page will be in the introduction notes for the episode (https://www.doitforcancer.com.au/fundraisers/meriemdaoui/marathon-for-tasmanian-cancer-council-and-oncology-outpatients).

Photo credit: https://www.instagram.com/meriem_runs/

Meriem's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meriem_runs/