Help A Diabetic Child by “Shopping for a Cause”

Help A Diabetic Child to Benefit from Veronica Beard “Shopping for a Cause”; Proceeds to Support Diabetes Supplies for Children in Need

Help a Diabetic Child (HADC), a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting underserved, uninsured and underinsured children and young adults who live with diabetes and struggle financially, will partner with Veronica Beard at Waterside Shops for a shopping event in which 10% of all purchases will be donated to the charity.

Co-founded in 2010 by Veronica Swanson Beard and her sister-in-law Veronica Miele Beard, the Veronica Beard fashion brand offers modern, classic and versatile clothing for women with busy lifestyles and a blend of luxury and contemporary pieces. Its signature product is the “dickey jacket.”

On Saturday, February 21st from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., shoppers will have the opportunity to enjoy sips and sweets while supporting HADC. In addition to donating 10% of all proceeds, Veronica Beard is offering 10% off your total purchase. The event located at 5415 Tamiami Trail N., is free to attend and advance registration is not required.

Tami Balavage

“We are delighted to participate in this wonderful program,” said Tami Balavage, Founder/President for Help a Diabetic Child. “We encourage everyone to come out and do their shopping while benefitting young children and their families in our community.”

HADC supports underserved children, young adults and their families in Southwest Florida who live with Type 1 diabetes and cannot afford insulin, diabetes medical supplies and medical services. It was founded in Naples in 2012 by Balavage after her 16-year-old son was diagnosed with the disease. It quickly became evident that there was a significant number of children who were unable to get adequate medical supplies for blood glucose testing and insulin injections, which must be done multiple times daily.

Type 1 Diabetes is a chronic (life-long) autoimmune disease in which the pancreas cannot produce enough insulin to naturally regulate the body’s blood sugar, leaving diagnosed individuals with a life-long dependency on costly medical insulin. Without daily insulin injections and blood sugar monitoring, a child can only survive a few days.

Statistics show that the number of Americans being diagnosed with diabetes continues to rise at alarming rates. The American Diabetes Association reports that almost 10 percent of the population has diabetes, while another 8 million are undiagnosed. In addition, the ADA reports that 86 million Americans over the age of 20 years have pre-diabetes.

A recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows a nearly 30 percent increase in Type 1 diabetes diagnoses in the United States, with youth cases growing most sharply among diverse populations.

Diagnosed cases of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are surging among youth in the United States. From 2001 to 2017, the number of people under age 20 living with Type 1 diabetes rose 45 percent and the number living with Type 2 diabetes grew by 95 percent.

For additional information or to support HADC’s mission of providing life-saving supplies and services, please call 239-821-5051 or visit www.helpadiabeticchild.org