Leanne is one of the fastest women on the water in Canada in an outrigger canoe. Where ever she travels for her racing and training she promotes awareness and understanding of Type 1 Diabetes. It’s hard not to notice her pink pump hanging proudly off her shorts.
Leanne enjoys connecting and speaking with people interested in healthy active lifestyles and fine tuning their insulin requirements for a wide range of physical activities. She feels that she learns something new from every other person with Type 1 that she meets.

Leanne is a Diabetes Champion because she uses her paddling to promote awareness and understanding that people with Diabetes just have to adjust their insulin to their life, they don’t have to adjust their life to their insulin.

In 2009, Leanne was awarded the Diabetes Exercise and Sports Association’s “Athlete of the Year” award.

I have been a diabetic for more than 20 years. My family tree is full of diabetic relatives on both my mother and father’s side. I have to thank my great medical team for helping me through the stage of being diagnosed as a diabetic and going through the challenges of finding the right path for my diabetic care. When I decided to retire from my full time job, I immediately thought of the Canadian Diabetes Association here in Ottawa as my volunteer opportunity. It has been a very positive experience, not only because I have learned a lot more of what the CDA does but because I enjoy working with the staff there.

My Diabetes Champion is Emma, my 18-month old daughter who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes a short 8 months ago. She is a diabetes champion because nothing (including diabetes) slows her down. She never sheds a tear over a finger poke, insulin pump site change, or blood draw at the lab.

Emma is my hero and I am so proud of her.

My Diabetes Champion…Connor was diagnosed 2 years ago. He has never complained, and he gives me the honour of being a part of his ongoing management strategy. My life has a higher purpose: the welfare of my son. Although his mother and I are divorced, we have learned to prioritize Connor’s well being over everything. I am actively working with many reputed diabetes management institutions in developing care solutions. He is my champion.

My first exposure to Diabetes began during the 2nd World War when I was led to understand it was a fatal disease and that people who had “IT” didn’t live very long.

I met Helen when we were just young teenagers. Helen was 12 and I was 13. We met during the summer school break when she went north to visit her aunt and uncle. After she went home at the end of the summer, we stayed in touch.

When the war broke out, I enlisted in the air force and while serving my letters with Helen became longer and more frequent. In one of her letters Helen told me about her (Type 1) Diabetes and I thought our relationship would come to an end.

I wanted to marry my best friend when the war ended but I was told she was a risk, a big risk and perhaps I should end our relationship before we got too involved. I asked my mother. She always had given me courage and confidence when my world was in turmoil. “Kenny, if you truly love her, you can be happy. Love will overcome the days of doubt”. How right!

After the war, I moved to Toronto, a few blocks away from Helen, and after a one year engagement we were married in 1947.

At the same time the treatment for Diabetes was changing due to the discovery of insulin.

“Toronto” insulin was manufactured in downtown Toronto. Huge piles of cattle pancreas were kept in cold storage waiting for the insulin to be extracted from them. When a person became allergic to beef insulin, there was pork insulin to take for a little while until your body accepted the beef again.

In the beginning glass syringes were used. When needles were used for any length of time, they got dull. I became very good at sharpening them. Each day, the needles and syringes were boiled for ten minutes to sterilize them.

A group of medical people had a meeting about the need for an association of volunteers to be formed and soon the Diabetic Association of Ontario received its Charter. Helen with her secretarial training volunteered to be the secretary. I did my bit by setting up chairs and driving here and there on errands.

When it became necessary to have a full-time secretary for the Ontario Division, Helen became the first paid person after so many years of volunteering.

With the creation of the Canadian Diabetic Association we became a truly full Canadian association, opening branches from coast-to-coast.

Due to the complications of Diabetes, having a family required consultation with a doctor. In 1949 it was determined that we could have a baby and our our first daughter was born by caesarian section on February 24, 1950. Four years later, again after consultation with the diabetes specialist and her family doctor we were allowed to have our second child who was also born by c-section.

In 1974 a camp for children with diabetes was purchased and Helen took on the task of being the registrar for Camp Huronda working out of the basement office of our home in Toronto.

I quit my job with Metro Toronto and headed to Camp Huronda near Huntsville to become the Camp Manager. It was a most rewarding experience. Children who came very insecure about their future went home knowing more about themselves and how to manage their Diabetes.

The camp children became like our own and to this day I still get Christmas cards from some of those wonderful “Camp Staff and Campers”.

When Helen’s eyesight deteriorated to the extent that it was difficult for her to carry on as Registrar for Camp Huronda we left the camp in 1980 to begin a life of retirement.

I became more involved as a volunteer and served on the Board of Ontario Division and as Regional Director for the Muskoka area where I visited all the Branches of the Region. Helen often traveled with me and was able to promote the values of sending a child with diabetes to camp.

In 1984 I was diagnosed with type two diabetes. Since that time I have had to pay more attention to my health.

Helen had diabetes for fifty-five years and received many awards including a life membership in CDA on June 26th, 1993, the Fifty-year Medal of Joslin Diabetes Center and a commissioned print of a painting done for Novo Nordisc of the home of Sir Fredrick Banting.

In 1993 we were both honored with life memberships in Saskatoon for our years of contributions to the Canadian Diabetes Association. I was honored with the “Eric Roberts Award” for recognition of volunteering for many years.

I know that our contribution has made a difference to those we touched with dedication to help improve “Living with Diabetes”.

Today, although limited in my ability to be part of the action physically, there is still that spirit of belonging and verbally suggesting the best way to stay healthy while living with diabetes.

“Diabetes is Manageable!”

I am a Diabetes Champion my child was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 15 years. I am HER CHAMPION. I now work with patients who have developed diabetes. At the primary care level, I get to know all off them VERY well. I am now their champion too.

Working with an innercity population dealing with many people with mental health conditions, new immigrants, and individuals on social assistance. All these people provide a challenge and satisfaction in dealing with diabetes.

I am a Diabetes Champion because I consistently contribute to increasing the funds available to the CDA to support people with diabetes through my professional endeavours.

Hayley is my Diabetes Hero because at the age of 12 she has already lived with Diabetes for 9 years and still wakes up everyday with a smile on her face! She rarly complains and does a great job counting carbs, and using her insulin pump to control her disease. Hayley loves school, dancing and acting. Hayley raises money every year for the past 8 years that we have walked and volunteered at the JDRF walk! Hayley is very excited to be running her first 5k run in December!
Hayley, we love you and all believe that you are a true hero!
Love, Mommy, Daddy and Marlee

I do not consider myself a champion. However, I am amongst them every day. As a certified diabetes educator, I work with other health professionals who are so dedicated to helping those with diabetes manage their lives. As a volunteer for both Diabetes Educator Section and CDA, I am humbled to be amongst people who so willing offer their time to such a worthy cause. As an individual, I have learned so much from people with diabetes who are conquering their challenges. You are all champions!