EVERYTHING
FOR YOUR FAMILY
KID
QUIPS
“One night, my 3-year-old asked me if she could sleep in my bed. I told her no. She said, “That’s not fair! Why does Daddy get to sleep in your bed?” READ MORE
Charitable Matters
|
||||
|
One step closer to finding a cure More than 200,000 people in Orange County live with diabetes. It could be your neighbor, your co-worker, even the little girl playing on the front lawn. Of these people, 28,000 have type 1 diabetes, many of whom are children. Type 1 diabetes, also known as juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes, is a disorder of the immune system causing the body to be especially vulnerable to sickness and disease. With type 1 diabetes, the body cannot produce insulin on its own, which is needed to break down glucose in the blood. Type 2, or adult-onset, diabetes is often developed later in life. However, more and more children are being diagnosed. People with type 2 diabetes are able to produce insulin but their bodies are unable to use it effectively. “The goal of JDRF is to accelerate the cure for diabetes,” says Louise Cummings, executive director of the Orange County Chapter of the JDRF. “Insulin is NOT a cure. The longer someone lives with diabetes, the more they are at risk of developing complications, which is why our goal is urgent.” The organization itself gives 80 cents of every dollar directly to research, thus operating on 20% of its earnings. In the last fiscal year, the Orange County Chapter raised $2.6 million for diabetes research, ranking our local chapter in the top 20 chapters of the 80 total in the U.S. “We want to speed up the time it takes for research to be realized into actual treatments that can positively affect the lives of those living with diabetes,” says Cummings. The Orange County Chapter attributes its momentum to a group of volunteers who help reach out to affected families. For example, a “Bag of Hope” resource kit is given to newly diagnosed children, providing information, cookbooks and a furry diabetes bear named Rufus to help them cope. Volunteers are also involved in the three major events that help raise money for diabetes research. The Walk to Cure Diabetes will be held Oct. 8 and 22. Next spring, the JDRF will put on two events: The Dream Gala on March 3 at the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort & Spa and “Fore the Kids” Golf Tournament on April 30 at the Coto de Caza Golf and Racquet Club. Help is always welcome. Especially for big events, like the Walk to Cure Diabetes, hundreds of volunteers are needed. “We need people to get their families, friends and businesses involved with fighting this disease,” says Cummings. Information: 949.553.0363. |
||||
RSS Subscribe
Digg This ArticleSEARCH THE SITE
