Eight-year-old defies diabetes to conquer Wantabadgery's 'widow maker'

It's a challenge for experienced cyclists, let alone for an eight-year-old with type one diabetes, a big enough mountain to climb in itself.

But with the help of a few jelly beans and sheer determination, Jonah Tonkin ticked that goal off his bucket list recently.

When the COVID-19 crisis hit, Jonah was taken out of school immediately and was placed into quarantine with no visitors due to his condition.

His father, John, originally tried to talk him out of the climb, and suggested going on a loop where the state and national junior championships will be held in September instead.

But Jonah was having none of it.

"There was a car up top to chaperone us around and he said 'that's bigger than I thought', but he knocked it into low gear and kept going," John said.

"I'd never ridden it before in daylight and I was wondering if I was going to be alright, let alone him. He just churned through.

"The climb is well over 800 metres but the gradient is probably bigger than Gregadoo, which I think is eight or nine.

"I was saying to my wife he's got a bit more grit than I expected, but I didn't know if that's due to diabetes or he had that already.

"He has to stab his belly and do stuff against his will a lot."

Jonah said he "felt happy" after finishing the climb.

"I decided to do it because I like bikes," he said.

"I want to do this hill again next time, and try and beat my time."

Jonah's levels need constant monitoring, and isn't allowed on rides without supervision.

"He's got a sensor, a constant glucose monitor that's shot to his belly once a week. It bluetooths data to his phone and that spits the data to our phone," John said.

"We tuck his phone into the back pocket of his jersey and I look at my phone periodically (on rides). He'll have jelly beans in his pocket and I'll have popper in case he runs low.

"We were halfway up the widow maker and he didn't stop, he just took three jelly beans out of my hand and ate them."

About ten fellow Wagga Cycling Club members were up the top cheering him on as he pedalled slowly up the mountain.

"There are times when we tell him to have a finger prick or get some juice, and he can begrudge it and I don't blame him, but mostly he accepts it," John sad.

"Somebody gave us a good quote at one point - 'we do the things we have to do, so we can do the things we want to do'."

READ MORE