4th Annual JDRF One Walk for a Cure

Four years!!! Has it really been four years? Wasn’t it just yesterday that she was turning four? Ten short years ago Olivia was learning to ride a bike with training wheels, and after riding with her older brother one afternoon in the cul-de-sac, she decided the training wheels were coming off. No rhyme or reason to it. She was having fun speeding around with the other kids and suddenly she decided it was time. So, we took the training wheels off, and after a few fits and starts, off she went and she has never really looked back.

Ten years later, and four years since her diagnosis, she is not looking to live with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) any longer. She’s looking to stomp it out! And this year she is inviting you to “Raise the Bar” and help raise money to fund JDRF’s continuing research and advancements for people living with Type 1 Diabetes every single day. The research is ever growing and the technology is rapidly advancing. Each step forward gives us hope that one day our daughter will no longer have to bear the daily grind that T1D demands.

“THANKS to ALL of YOU!”
First of all, we would like to thank you for buying shirts, supporting the Walk, and buying from our Amazon links. We are humbled by your generosity and outpouring of support and we cannot ever thank you enough!

We also would like to thank JDRF, Insulin for Life and MUSC for their continuing efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence. Inclement weather is always a frightening thought for everyone but for those who rely on a medication to live, especially one which must be kept at a certain temperature range to be effective, the outcome can be unimaginable. Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with those affected by Florence.

T1D and Life in General – This last year has been really good, even with all the changes. Olivia has transitioned from middle school to high school, which brings more freedom and more responsibility. She is volunteering at a local retirement home and absolutely loves helping others. She completed a brief stint job shadowing a registered nurse and attended several sessions of Diabetes Camp, which is her most favorite place on earth.

And as life is always prone to do, a curve has been thrown in our direction. Olivia’s grandmother, Mary, was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes just four short months ago at the age of 78. Mary was originally misdiagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes, but after her treatment regimen was repeatedly unsuccessful, further testing was done revealing the tell-tale antibodies and very little insulin production. Mary is now insulin dependent and is living with the highs and lows T1D brings.

Mary’s diagnosis has given Olivia a chance to teach her grandmother all about the ins and outs of Type 1 management, insulin delivery, testing, using a Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) and dietary observations. And soon, thanks to JDRF pushing and advocating for Medicare coverage for CGMs, we will be able to follow Olivia’s grandmother on our Dexcom Share application, which will allow us to remotely monitor her blood sugar and to be able to reach out to her if her blood sugar gets in a dangerous range. What peace of mind this offers our family!

Our 2018 JDRF One Walk will be held at 8am on Saturday, November 10th at Spirit Communications Park in the Bull Street District of Downtown Columbia. Last year our team contributed $2000 to JDRF and this year we have set a goal to reach the $2500 mark. With your help we can do it! Our T1D Awareness Team Shirt (which was hand-drawn and designed by Olivia) reflects our desire to Raise the Bar and make every effort to eradicate Type 1 Diabetes and send it into the history books.

We truly cannot say it enough. Thank you! Your tax-deductible donation is a tremendous help to the families of those living with Type 1 Diabetes. We are walking, raising money, and advocating not just for our family, but for the 1.5 million people in the United States who are living with Type 1 Diabetes, and for the over 18,000 newly diagnosed this year alone, including Olivia’s grandmother.

Please join our Walk Team. We are not asking for much from each of you, but we are asking a lot of you to join us. Many hands make for lighter work. A $25 donation goes a long way for research into better therapies, better diagnostic tools, and ultimately, a cure!

Visit My Team Page to JOIN or DONATE

Thank You!

*Please make your donation go further by asking your HR Department about a company match!

JDRF One Walk has one goal: to create a world without type 1 diabetes (T1D). We know you want to make a cure a reality too—and we can’t wait for you to join us!

When you participate in your local JDRF One Walk, the money you raise supports life–changing breakthroughs that give hope to everyone impacted by this disease. And, you’ll have a great time doing it! That’s because you’ll walk with a committed community that is passionate about doing whatever it takes to help turn Type One into Type None.

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that strikes children and adults suddenly. It has nothing to do with diet or lifestyle—and it’s serious and stressful to manage. There is nothing you can do to prevent T1D and there is currently no cure. But there is something you can do to help. Please register to walk with us today. We can’t do it without you.

To learn more visit the JDRF Event Website and get invloved!