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heart to heart
JDRF
hearts united by hope
by Karen Coney Coplin am grateful every day for this organization and the wonderful
friends that I have met through JDRF.”
N on-profit organizations exist to support and benefit
a particular important cause, and ultimately to Other local families underscore the struggles which go
advance the public interest. The Juvenile Diabetes hand-in-hand with a Type One diagnosis. Pam Price writes
Research Foundation (“JDRF”) is just such an of surviving some of the “darkest moments” when her son
organization, and they are on a mission: to turn Type One into was diagnosed at age five; she notes that through JDRF, she
Type None. connected with other caring families and volunteers. Everyone
shares “the goal of seeing all kids free of this horrible disease.”
Millions of children, adults and families are challenged by The Lang family, with two T1D sons, is committed to finding a
type 1 diabetes (T1D) every single day. T1D is an autoimmune cure to help all kids with this disease; mom Michelle volunteers
disease in which a person’s pancreas loses the ability to produce at JDRF “with other great families who know exactly what” her
family encounters. Barry and Tricia Wilkinson highlight the
insulin, the hormone which converts positive lessons their daughter has learned to care for her own
food into energy. health. And, another mom, Jennifer Lange, is committed to
helping JDRF meet funding goals for scientific research. Like
It strikes children and adults many other parents, she has served in many volunteer and staff
suddenly. It is unrelated to diet and roles at the JDRF. All families fervently hope their kids can live
lifestyle, though a diagnosis now long and healthful lives.
dictates a lifetime of carbohydrate
counting, blood-glucose testing, and Naples is served by the Florida Suncoast Chapter of JDRF,
(presently) lifelong dependence on a dynamic group dedicated to the important mission of helping
injected insulin. There is no way to those affected by T1D and to support research. To achieve their
prevent it, and at present, no cure. goals, the Suncoast Chapter organizes several fundraisers each
JDRF works every day to change this year including “The One Walk.”
by amassing grassroots support, deep scientific knowledge, and
many partnerships to fund research. Another exciting opportunity to support the ongoing efforts
JDRF has led the search for a cure for T1D since its founding of the local JDRF is coming up on Friday, March 11. This year’s
in 1970. In those days, people commonly called the disease event (founded by the John McDonough family) marks the
“juvenile diabetes” because it was frequently diagnosed in young Hope Gala’s 10th anniversary and promises to be a glamorous
children. Today, we know that an equal number of children and evening celebrating “The Golden Age of Las Vegas.”
adults are diagnosed every day – approximately 110 people per
day. Thanks to better therapies, which JDRF funding has been As in prior years, the event will be held at the Ritz-Carlton
instrumental in developing and making available, people with Beach Resort. With the theme, “The Best is Yet to Come,” the
T1D live longer and stay healthier while they await the cure. gala will host more than 300 guests for dinner, dancing, silent
A local family has confronted T1D head-on for the past and live auctions and casino-style gaming. Don’t miss a chance
decade. The Danner family had no family history and no to enjoy an unforgettable, sophisticated evening!
knowledge of this life-changing disease when their daughter
Alyssa was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age seven. Julie For information about Hope Gala 2016 and the important
Danner, Alyssa’s mom, called JDRF “a lifeline,” with dedicated, mission of JDRF, please contact the Florida Suncoast Chapter
caring staff and volunteers. She said: “They offered us resources office at 239.591.2825 or, via email to Sarah Owen: sowen@
and understanding like no one who hasn’t experienced this jdrf.org and: https://jdrf-fl-sarasota-manatee.ejoinme.org/My
diagnosis or disease could offer, and most of all, they offered us Events/2016HopeGalaTheBestisYettoCome/tabid/696275/
hope. We believe that we will see a cure for our daughter in her Default.aspx.
lifetime, and JDRF is working tirelessly toward that cure. When
Alyssa was diagnosed, we felt helpless and through JDRF we Email Karen at NaplesKCC@gmail.com to suggest coverage of
found a purpose and a way to be a part of the cure that will a favorite charitable organization for a future article. Special thanks
benefit the children and adults that struggle every single day. I to the Danner family for highlighting the extraordinary efforts of the
local JDRF in support of member families and the quest for a cure.
16 Life in Naples | March 2016
