Until recently, I was one of those people who only raised funds for JDRF. In my head, I justified it as they are doing important work to find a cure for diabetes, and also fund research for other important advancements in diabetes management.
When asked why I didn't fund-raise for Camp Nejeda, the diabetes camp I attended as a kid, my flip response was "it's just camp, JDRF is doing real work." Yeah, cringe, I really thought that despite how connected I still am to camp and all of the people I met there, and how much I believe in their mission.
When asked why I didn't fund-raise for Camp Nejeda, the diabetes camp I attended as a kid, my flip response was "it's just camp, JDRF is doing real work." Yeah, cringe, I really thought that despite how connected I still am to camp and all of the people I met there, and how much I believe in their mission.
Over the last 2 years, while working closely with the Camp Nejeda Foundation team on the adults with T1D boot-camp I started to realize how much camp needs fundraising support as well. That they do real work. Every summer the nurses, doctors, counselors, kitchen staff, and countless others give their heart and soul to make sure the campers are safe, have fun, and learn that diabetes doesn't have to stop you from being a kid. You can swim, play soccer, go boating, and have diabetes.
Last year I wrote about my diabetes camp story and to this day credit Nejeda with how I deal with the disease, social settings, and how I deal with all the psycho-social associated with living with a chronic disease. It's so much more than "just camp."
I recently broke it down more simply:
JDRF works on research that helps all people with diabetes - in terms of better management tools, better insulin, supporting clinical trials, and reaching for that cure.
Camp Nejeda lets kids be kids, today What they learn now at Camp lasts them for a lifetime, and is critical in my opinion, in providing the psychological tools they'll carry with them until the cure.
Camp Nejeda lets kids be kids, today What they learn now at Camp lasts them for a lifetime, and is critical in my opinion, in providing the psychological tools they'll carry with them until the cure.
So my dilemma is this -- I want to raise $900 for Camp Nejeda for their 9/25 walk, and $2000 for the JDRF walk in Boston in October. It's not easy, but I've never backed down from a challenge and not about to do so now.
If you would like to support either cause, I'd very greatly appreciate it:
Note: Camp Nejeda is not affiliated with JDRF or ADA, so they depend even more on individual donations and support.
If you would like to support either cause, I'd very greatly appreciate it:
Note: Camp Nejeda is not affiliated with JDRF or ADA, so they depend even more on individual donations and support.
Camp Nejeda: https://goo.gl/DtF2QF
I too am a T1D for 49 years and attended Camp NYDA Upstate, NY. For 30 plus years on an insulin pump until recently. I was not receiving the proper dosage and had to give my abdomen a rest from too much scar tissue. Now i am back on 4-5 injections a day. I started going to camp at the age of 6. Found it to be quite an experience. For the good and not so good. It was found out by a nurse that one of the CITs was giving my shot for me. Just could not inject myself. They separated us and they locked me in a room with the door closed and said I could come out when I gave my own injection. Very bad teaching for such a young Diabetic. I finally counted to 3 about 100 tomes efore I could get that needle in my leg. Then i am thinking to myself, if i injected myself without the nurse seeing, they might think I a lied. So, i hopped to the door with the needle still stuck in my leg and when the nurse entered the room i injected the insulin. I hated camp. My mom made me go for eight years straight. I have a great team of doctors and made it thus far, but with plenty of complications along the way. I always walked the walks and raised a thousand dollars easily back then. People at that time did not give ten cents a mile. I got twenty dollar bills for the entire walk. I also was a co-chairman for the JDF in my 20s. I hope you raise the money and then some and thank you for your service for a cure for this great cause. Good luck in your endeavors. Godspeed. Sincerely, a concerned JD
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your story Cindy. Diabetes isn't easy, at all, and sounds like you've had a tough time of it. I'm grateful that there is so much more awareness of diabetes (though I feel like I'm always educating people about it) and better management tools than ever before.
ReplyDeleteFeel free to reach out any time! xoxo