How You Can Help

I've had a number of people ask me how they can help us with the upcoming Walk to Cure Diabetes.

1.  Obviously, money talks.  :)  I am really, REALLY uncomfortable asking people for money.  However, when it comes to Ross's health and finding a way for him to never have to experience another dang finger stick, pump insertion, low blood sugar, high blood sugar, injection, fear of seizure or ketoacidosis, etc. I can and will do anything!  Whether it's $1 or $1000, we are sincerely grateful for every donation that is made in Ross's name.  Every single cent is going toward making his life a little more normal.  Donations are tax deductible!  You can safely donate to Ross's Gator Crusaders HERE.
AND/OR

2.  Join us on September 24th at 8:00 a.m. at Engler Park in Farmington.  We are truly humbled by the love and support we've received at the last two Walks we've partcipated in.  To look around and see familiar faces, knowing they are there for Ross is overwhelming.  I honestly pray everyone has a chance in his/her lifetime to experience that kindness.  Not only will the walkers be there for moral support, the Walk is a lot of fun, too!

If there are any questions, please contact me at stephaniefelker78@hotmail.com.  Thanks!

Ross's Walk to Cure Diabetes Video

Walk Time Again!

We are blessed to have another Walk to Cure Diabetes in Farmington!  It will take place Saturday, September 24th at Engler Park.  Registration will take place at 8:00 a.m., and the 3 mile walk will begin at 8:30. 

Hundreds of individuals are expected to gather for a common cause -- to raise funds to assist JDRF in its mission to find treatments and cures for type 1 diabetes. We're also going to have a fun time as many family events are planned including, food, beverages, a children's area and plenty of activities for the entire family. 

By taking on such a key role in the JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes, you help JDRF continue to be the leading funder of and advocate for type 1 diabetes science. With your support, JDRF funded more than $107 million in diabetes research in Fiscal Year 2010 alone, and more than $1.5 billion in type 1 diabetes research since JDRF was founded in 1970. That is more funding for type 1 diabetes research than any other charity in the world has accomplished. Our research funding goal for FY2011 is ambitious: to fund $124 million in promising science leading to better treatments and a cure for type 1 diabetes. So, we really need your help!

You can make an online donation by visiting www.walk.jdrf.org and typing in my name (Stephanie Felker) or our team name, Ross's Gator Crusaders, in the state of Missouri.  If you would prefer, you can contact me at stephaniefelker78@hotmail.com to send in a check. 

Thank you so much for your support!

Easy Money For JDRF

If you live in Illinois or Missouri, and you shop at Schnucks, they will donate up to 3% of your money to JDRF with a program called eScrip. THIS IS THE EASIEST WAY TO MAKE MONEY FOR JDRF!!

When you sign up for this free program you will receive two cards - one you can keep in your wallet as well as one you can attach to your key chain. This is not a gift card or credit card, and it contains no value. But JDRF will receive money every time you use the eScrip card at Schnucks. The money raised will go for funding research for a cure for type 1 diabetes.

When you purchase anything at Schnucks markets, just have the cashier scan your eScrip card and a small percentage of your piurchase (up to 3%) is credited to JDRF. You will incur no additional charges, and your bill will not change. Just pay for your purchase as you normally do - cash, check, or charge. There are no fees, no membership charges, no costs to you, and no hassles.

These cards are available at any Schnucks markets, or I would be happy to get some for you. If you have any questions about the program, you can get more information here.

Baby Steps

We attended a JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) family retreat last weekend and came home with more information and ideas on treating Ross' diabetes. We were interested to learn of a company in Massachusetts that is working to create a new kind of insulin - SmartInsulin. It would help control his blood sugar with just one injection a day.

SmartInsulin is designed to be "glucose-regulated," meaning it can sense how high or low a person's blood sugar is and will only release insulin when it is needed, just like a healthy pancreas does. If the blood sugar level is high, SmartInsjulin will release insulin, but if the blood sugar is going low, it will stop releasing insulin - hopefully preventing a scary episode of low blood sugar. SmartInsulin would require only one shot daily and would also reduce the number of times Ross would have to test.

Since he is on a pump and no longer taking daily injections, I'm not sure how that would work for him. I don't know if he would stop using the pump and only have one injection daily or if he would take one injection of the SmartInsulin and still use the pump. Researchers still have lots of testing and clinical trials, but there is good reason to hope a new kind of insulin that makes diabetes management easier may be available in the years ahead.

We continue to be optimistic that this is one step closer to seeing a cure in Ross' lifetime.

Save The Date

We are thrilled to announce that a JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes is taking place in our area! Instead of travelling 5 hours to take part in the Kansas City Chapter's Walk, we will be able to travel about 5 minutes. It will be Saturday, April 10, 2010 at Engler Park in Farmington, Missouri. Registration begins at 8:00 a.m. with the 0ne mile walk beginning at 9:00 a.m. Doughnuts, bagels, juice, and coffee will be complimentary, and door prizes will be provided.

As always, we welcome EVERYONE to attend. This is a free event. You do not have to pledge any money if you come walk with us. We will just be grateful for the support you give Ross by walking with us. This is a great way to get a little exercise while letting Ross know he's not alone.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at stephaniefelker78@hotmail.com.

Be there, or be square!

The Walk To Cure Diabetes

Our Walk To Cure Diabetes turned out to be a fantastic experience.

On October 10th we travelled to Kansas City, MO to participate and do our part to raise funds for JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation). It was C-C-C-FREEZING!!!! It was 37 degrees the morning of the Walk. It was so hard to feel warm for the rest of the day.

We had a total of 31 walkers on our team, Ross's Gator Crusaders. We felt truly humbled and grateful to everyone that travelled far to join us in supporting Ross. I am not an emotional person, but I couldn't keep it together that day. It was very inspiring to see so many people (thousands) there to support the same cause that is so close to our hearts.

Back at the end of August, our family set a goal to raise $1000 to donate to JDRF on Ross's behalf. As of today, we've donated $4,630 Out of the 385 teams in attendance, only 17 raised more money than Ross's Gator Crusaders. We are more than grateful. Words can't express the humility and gratitude we feel. We are almost finished with our huge list of Thank-You notes!