Say hello to November: National Diabetes Awareness Month. There are loads of awareness campaigns going on this month, beginning with the list of exciting stuff I previewed recently here. World Diabetes Day is of course smack in the middle of the month on Nov. 14, and here in San Francisco, we’ll be lighting up the Metreon Building and kicking off the fun new fitness program, Dance Out Diabetes.
What I want to talk to you about today, however, is Thinking Globally. The International Diabetes Federation was formed, and began the World Diabetes Day initiative, in response to “the alarming rise in diabetes around the world.”
Of course, we need to raise awareness of this illness here in the US, and help those in need. But keep in mind, we still live in a relatively wealthy Western country, in which we have it pretty good. No matter how much we struggle with our diabetes, believe you me, there are people who are much worse off — children who die every day because they don’t have access to life-saving testing supplies and insulin.
For this reason, the amazing competitive cyclists at Team Type 1 are staging a special campaign to help children in Rwanda this month. Here’s what they’re up to:
The Event
Team Type 1 will make history by placing an all type 1 team into a professional stage race, the Tour of Rwanda (8 days, 1200kms) which has never been done before! The team is sending six of its professional cyclists, all with type 1 diabetes, to participate in this brand new international cycling race that takes place over nine days beginning on November 15th, 2010, in Kigali, Rwanda.
As part of this effort Team Type 1, in conjunction with the International Diabetes Federation and many diabetes suppliers, will be providing hundreds of children in Rwanda with life-saving diabetes medication and supplies.
The Cause
Why Rwanda? Life expectancy is less than 5 years with diabetes. In addition, many children and adolescents with diabetes die very quickly. Other young people struggle to survive with insufficient access to insulin and without access to monitoring supplies or trained diabetes healthcare providers. Unable to control their blood glucose, they develop complications early in life. In low-income countries, it is not uncommon to find youths and young adults with devastating complications such as eye damage and kidney failure. For these young people, the years spent developing complications are desperately unpleasant and unhappy.
“On World Diabetes Day we will meet with the kids as we have done with children from diabetes camps all over America, and try to motivate them to take the best care they can so that they too can achieve their dreams!” says team captain Phil Southerland. “This is only our first launch in the goal to ensure that everyone in the world has access, and we will be coming to a city near you soon to do the same.”
How You Can Help
Team Type 1 is asking everyone with or effected by diabetes to take part in the TT1 Strip-A-Thon, by donating spare glucose meters and test strips, to provide the children with Rwanda diabetes supplies for the year — alongside their drive to inspire the children by showing that type 1 diabetics can win a stage or place overall in their very own Tour of Rwanda.
How to CONTRIBUTE & WIN Here at the ‘Mine
The contest: Be a donor to the Strip-A-Thon, and then post a message in the Comments Section below — any message at all that you’d like to pass on to the D-kids in Rwanda. Team Type 1 has committed to compiling these messages, and making sure they get delivered, in a language the children can understand. All participants will be entered in a drawing to win one of three care packs of helpful and fun D-prizes:
- a signed cycling jersey, a team poster, a T-shirt and water bottle from the Team Type 1 store
- a sampling of diabetes and sports products from Team Type 1′s sponsors, including Dex4 glucose products, low-GI energy snacks and more
- for one lucky winner living in or near Northern California (or willing to travel here), a ride in the team car at America’s largest race, The Tour of California, next May (details TBD)
We’ll be accepting messages to the kids in Rwanda through World Diabetes Day, Nov. 14. Winners will be announced Tuesday, Nov. 16.
The Strip-A-Thon will continue to take donations through the end of November:
Send your un-opened vials of test strips, and/or meters, or monetary donation to -
Team Type 1
Attn: Strip-A-Thon Contest
1231 Collier Rd, Suite N
Atlanta, GA 30318
Click on the icon to learn more.
Our plea to you all this November: please think globally and donate life-saving supplies to help a child in Rwanda. Then send them a motivating message by posting below. Why not? We’re even offering prizes to make it fun 
)
Tallahassee (Team Type 1 founder, Phil Southerland, hometown) is having an event on World Diabetes day to send insulin and diabetic supplies to Rwanda via Rotarian Action Group/Team Type 1 (the Tallahassee plan) and also to provide scholarships for children with diabetes to attend diabetes camp in our local area through our hospital, TMH, Diabetes Center.
Florida State University, FAMU, lots of students, grownups, and community leaders are involved.
We want to make people AWARE of DIABETES and consequences.
We have a local bakery donating cupcakes with the circle of blue – and our mantra is “You can have your cake and eat it too, EXERCISE if you do.
Everyone who knows Phil – knows he liked an occasional Snickers bar — but would ride his bike to keep glucose in control!!!
World Diabetes Day – > Tallahassee, Florida – the hometown of Team Type 1 founder, Phil Southerland – is “teaming up” to help Rotary/Team Type 1 deliver insulin and diabetes supplies to Rwanda (Rotary will donate on behest of TT1) as well as raise funds to support scholarships for children with diabetes to go to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital Diabetes Center diabetes camp.
HOW? Lots of gyms involved – Indoor Cycling Relay (Sweat Therapy Fitness), Super Group Ex class (Premier Health and Fitness), Florida State University (FSU) Women’s Track Team, FSU Cycling Team, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) School of Pharmacy, TMH, and
Tallahassee’s most famous bakery, THE CAKE SHOP, is selling cupcakes with the blue circle of diabetes with all funds going to support the CAUSE!
A trendy bar near FSU Campus is going to brew blue beer and sell Blue Cupcakes, Fermentation Lounge, on a “Drink Responsibly” night.
Our theme– “You can have your cake and eat it too, EXERCISE if you do!”
All events have donations and all are about exercise.
You are not alone living with diabetes. Test your blood sugar and take care of yourself. There are kids just like you all over the world.
To My Diabetes Friends,
I hope you know that you are not alone. I have diabetes too and sometimes it’s hard. I want to help you however I can. I am just a kid and I don’t have alot of stuff, but I hope you get the insulin you need because I will be sad if you don’t. I will pray for you.
Your Diabetes Friend,
Adalyne
Keep smiling, kiddos. The Type 1 community in Canada is thinking about you! Live your lives to the fullest and don’t let diabetes bring you down.
xo Jen
We just moved from Rwanda last December due to our son’s Type 1 diagnosis. Resources are low as you know, thank you for helping! This is wonderful!
I already posted once, but like I said just moved from there. There is an excellent endocrinologist that just moved to Rwanda from Tyler, TX a year ago. He is involved with medical missions there. I would love to give you his contact info, but can’t find an e-mail or number for the Rwanda initiative on this site.
I have had Type 1 diabetes since 1965, I am 50 now. I was five when diagnosed. Back then testing was done at home using urine, a test tube, an eye dropper, and a blue tablet. I also used U-20 insulin, made from beef and pork, but with all its impurities, it ate into the fat on my legs and left big ‘sinkholes’ in my thighs. Fortunately they grew back in after about 20 years. I will be sending some spare test strips and a few meters to you very soon! I have a big soft spot for diabetic children, and love you all.
Great effort and I am happy that I am able to contribute…I have about 50 meters that I will send to you. My own son was diagnosed almost 14 years ago so I know all to well what the children in Rwanda are going through…I applaud everything you’re doing to provide resources and support to these kids! I know they will benefit greatly from all that you’re doing.
So glad to have a good cause to donate my spare meters to! Amy, I have 2 that are unused, but also 3 or 4 that were used (some fewer than 10 times.) Can I donate those as well?
hi this is john it is nice to see your webiste……
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No Win No Fee Scotland
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