I am a diabetes champion because I raised almost $8,000 for the Diabetes Summer Surge. On the occasion of my 50th birthday, I decided to do an Ironman triathlon and raise money for the Canadian Diabetes Association. I called my project Rob’s 50 IM for DM (Ironman for Diabetes Mellitus). I was inspired to raise money by my son Patrick who has type 1 diabetes and has raised $1,600 for diabetes through his participation in the Sudbury Rocks Half Marathon. I completed the Madison, Wisconsin Ironman in September 2009.

I know some one who is a Diabetic Champion – My cousin Mary Evelyn Janes (Nee Cringan) who has been taking insulin for almost 72 years, as she was diagnosed as diabetic at the age of 8 and half and now is a bright, lovely eighty – year – old. Though she is a “Brittle diabetic, as her blood sugar goes up and down which causes trouble, and though Glaucoma and Cataracts were diagnosed when she was 16, she completed her senior matriculation at St. Clement’s School and completed a year at the University of Toronto with good marks, graduated from teachers’ college and taught kindergarten for three years until she married. She gave birth naturally to two healthy sons and now has eight bright grandchildren, those of whom are now at university. Mary is an excellent bridge-player, takes later life learning courses at the University of Toronto and had a career and did voluntier work for many years. I believe she may be the oldest juvenile diabetic in Canada and we love her.

Daniel Hurtubise is a Diabetes Champion!

Daniel, his 2 kids and Robert Carrier planned to cycle from West Coast to East Coast of Canada, in the summer of 2008. The purpose was raising awareness and money for JDRF to find a cure for type 1 diabetes .

We met the Team here in Salmon Arm, BC . Our local East Side Mario’s restaurant hosted the Team. At the end of June 2008, a tragic accident in Manitoba killed both Daniel ( 50 ) and his cycling friend Robert ( 46 ). Daniel lived with type 1 diabetes since age 15 .

Two families lost their Husband and Dad.  Daniel’s words were: “Passion can never die” ; the Hurtubise family is carrying on with raising funds for the cure .

Our Heroes, Our Champions, including the family members.

Rosalyn is a Diabetes Champion. 

She gave diabetes a face that was not scary to her nephew (my son )Kyle Pyke. Putting her life on hold, she came as soon as he was diagnosed.  Rosalyn walked us through the ups and downs, and there seemed to be so many.  She gave Kyle knowledge and told him he would be fine because he is smart.  After her visits, he looked at his health and his attitude towards living his total devotion. 

Kyle plays hockey ,volleball, and he was reviewed by George Canyon at Cadets.  Rosalyn tells Kyle she is proud of him every visit. She is his hero.  Rosalyn has always been mine!  She is the most healthy, motivating mother, manager of a very busy resturant,volunteers to help seniors and even joined her first hockey team at 41 years old.  She called Kyle and he said he was proud she tried hockey…now they even have that in common.

She did not set out to be thanked,which is funny because we can’t find enough words to thank her. She gave us hope.

Love, her baby sister Nancy, and nephew Kyle Pyke.

I am a Diabetes Champion…Diagnosed with Type 1 at age 15. Went on to become a dietitian, get married and have 3 successful pregnancies along with breastfeeding. Now at age 51, I work in a Cardiac/Pulmonary Rehab clinic and enjoy helping people with diet, insulin adjustments and just feeling okay about having diabetes.I am a CDE and love to play golf and downhill ski. Through careful mgt. I remain free of complications and live a WONDERFUL LIFE!

Nancy in a Diabetes Champion.  Nancy is an RN,CDE who on a daily basis positively impacts the lives of Pender Harbour residents living with Type 2 and Type 1 diabetes. She is consciensious, calm, capable, discrete, patient and diplomatic. Nancy is always looking to further her learning about diabetes and its management. Apart from work, Nancy enjoys several activities in her community (music, church, fitness) and while she is out participating in these she continues to gently support people living with diabetes.

Zachary is a Diabetes Champion because having just turned 3 and only been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes for less than 2 months he’s been an absolute trooper. He’s adjusted really well. He is now doing his own finger pokes and loves to get his glucometer and needles ready himself. His sister Sarah is also a champion. She looks out for her brother and loves to help and be his nurse. We are blessed to have such a great family and this has been another opportunity to work together as a team.

A month after moving back home to Canada after living in Hawaii, my 14 year old son, Connor, was diagnosed with Type-1 Diabetes. Not only did he just start at a new school where he didn’t know anyone, he was the only student in the school with the disease. He could have let this affect him greatly however, his outlook has been unbelievably positive. On Connor’s second day in the hospital a wonderful coincidence occured as he was visited by Scott Duntan, a National Recognized surfing sensation from Hawaii who travels the world spreading hope for kids recently diagnosed. Scott wrote an article about his visit and my son has helped spread the word ever since.

Connor says it was a good thing he came down with Diabetes because it has taught him the value of healthy eating and he actually feels better than he ever has due to his new healthier lifestyle and eating habits.

Even after Connors goals of joining the Canadian Armed Forces were crushed due to his diagnosis, he remains positive and has redirected his focus to other similar careers with the RCMP or National Guard.

Most people in Canada would know the name Tie Domi from his days of being with the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey team. Most people would know Christine Hough-Sweeney as champion figure skater who won six medals at the Canadian Nationals including a gold in 1998. I know a different Tie Domi & Christine Hough-Sweeney.

A few months ago, Tie’s office asked me to suggest a charity that Tie & Christine could contribute to for their preformance on Battle of the Blades. They were very specific that this be a Diabetes Charity. My suggestion was that they donate to the Diabetes Hope Foundation. The Diabetes Hope Foundation provides scholarships and awards to teenagers who have Diabetes to further their education and other relevant activities. The money that Tie & Christine contibuted to the Diabetes Hope Foundation will be set up as a scolarship fund. I think Tie Domi is a Diabetes Champion.

Patrick is a Diabetes Champion! Using multiple daily injections of Lantus & NovoRapid, he manages to keep his numbers in range most of the time. His A1c is on track, and the team at our DEC love to see him and watch his progress. Patrick is responsible for his own tests & injections at school and when I am at work. We are now expanding that role to include weekends and holidays, so that he can learn to respond to his own disease rather than relying on Mom for his clinical expertise.
I know that this is not much more than most 10 year olds with diabetes can do. But Patrick has never known life without tests and injections, and sometimes I can hardly remember those days myself. He was diagnosed at 18 months, and since then has managed to grow into a normal ten-year old boy!!