The Journey Begins

Last week, I committed to raise funds to help the Canadian Diabetes Association by joining their Team Diabetes. My goal is to raise $6,100 and run in a Marathon in Edinburgh, Scotland in May 2013.

As an avid runner, I think I am more intimidated by the fundraising goal than the marathon distance! However, the inspiration for this undertaking is my daughter, Sarah, who was diagnosed with Type I Diabetes in August 2011 at the age of 12. Her diagnosis came out of nowhere and has forever changed her life. In the past year, we have received a lot of support from the Canadian Diabetes Association and we live everyday hoping for a cure to this horrible condition.

One of the greatest contributions of the Canadian Diabetes Association is supporting research. But that is not all they do. They also run summer camps for young people with Type I Diabetes. Sarah attended their Camp Huronda this summer, and had a fantastic experience. She bonded with other kids with Type I Diabetes, and learned more about how to manage her Diabetes independently. This was a turning point for her to start to come to terms with her lifelong condition. Here is a video she made about her camp experience:

Like the millions of other Canadians affected by Diabetes, we hope desperately with the generosity of donations that this does not need to remain a lifelong condition, and that a cure might be found in Sarah's lifetime.

If you would be so kind as to support my mission, please click https://ocp.diabetes.ca/Pledge/csPersonalPage.asp?prId=td&tId=19089&oId=15555744.  I would be grateful for whatever support you could provide.

While I have a long training path ahead, I will cross a finish line on May 26, 2013 and my run will be over. But Sarah doesn't have a finish line and will always be working harder at managing her diabetes than I ever will training for a marathon. Help us support this important cause.

I will be blogging throughout my training and fundraising between now and May. I hope you will follow my progress, and enjoy the journey along with me.

Thank you! Jack