Faye McAvoy, along with her entire family have hosted a golf tournament in Support of the Canadian Diabetes Association for a number of years raising thousands of dollars for the Association.

Each year a number of OPPA members, friends and family get together for a full day of golf and fun. Along with arranging the day of golf, Faye spends endless hours collecting prizes, goodie bag items, raffle prizes and silent auction items.

To me, the true meaning of a Diabetes Champion is someone like Faye who gives so generously of her time to support the Association time and time again.

Faye enjoys working the tournament and this gives her a chance to support the members of her family that are affected by diabetes.

Thank you Faye!

Caje is our Supervisor of IT Services with the Association and has always gone above and beyond to support the people working out in the field.

How many I.T. people would give you their personal cell number and tell you to call him any time there is a problem and he will be there to help. Evenings, weekends, they mean nothing when it comes to Caje helping us to get the work of CDA done.

For all of his support and assistance throughout the year, I think Caje makes a great candidate as a Diabetes Champion.

Thanks Caje for everything for all the staff in South East Ontario!

Margaret Little, Registered Nurse and Diabetes Educator

I have had the honour and privilege of working with Margaret over the past 10 years. She is a very valued and respected, longtime volunteer.  Margaret gives freely of her time and energy and she has a keen sense of wanting to help this Association accomplish its mission and she has a true compassion for people living with diabetes.

Margaret has been a passionate, active volunteer since 1978. She has devoted over 30 years, volunteering for the Canadian Diabetes Association and she doesn’t think about what she does for people with diabetes, she just does it.

She served as the President of the Kingston Branch Executive from 1986-1987, and from 1988-1993 she was the
Eastern Ontario Regional Representative.

Along with many Professional Service and Achievement Awards; Margaret received the Prestigious Charles H Best
Award from our National office in 2003, for demonstrating immeasurable commitment and dedication to this
Association.

Margaret continues to provide positive and helpful advice and direction when developing the year’s information sessions and Expos.

Submitted by April McCann
Public Programs and Services Coordinator

Terri-Lynn together with her daughters host a dart tournament in Prescott Ontario in Support of the Canadian Diabetes Association in memory of their husband/ father Tom Beach.

What began as a way to remember Terri’s husband and celebrate his memory has turned into a wonderful event held in Prescott each year.

Tom Beach was an avid dart player and so the tournament is a wonderful way for Terri, family and friends to celebrate and a chance for the family to support the work done by CDA.

Each year the event continues to grow and the Beach Family has raised over $9,000 for the Association.

Thanks to Terri-Lynn and her daughters for their continued support.

Don Mann exemplifies the true meaning of a Volunteer. Don is our Regional Chair for South East Ontario and has just started his second year as a member of the Board of Directors for the Canadian Diabetes Association.

I personally wonder where Don finds the time to do everything he does for the Association and especially the region. Don sits on many committees representing the Volunteers and the Association, internal to our group as well as with our external partners; he works our displays, is a Learning Series presenter, a member of our Advocacy Team and a general spokesman for diabetes everywhere he goes.

I am honoured to work along side of Don and to learn from his experience and dedication to the Association.

Thank you Don for everything you have done and continue to do fto ight for our cause and support people affected by diabetes.

Siobhan has been living with type 1 diabetes since age 7. Her goal is to be a “normal” kid, and she doesn’t let diabetes slow her down! She swims and plays sports at school, goes to camp and hangs out with her friends, just like all kids her age. She also does a great job managing her diabetes with the help of her family. To us, Siobhan is a champion in every sense of the word!

I have had type one diabetes since I was six years old. Twenty years later I can honestly say that living with diabetes has not always been an easy task but with hard work and strong support (like my parents and grandparents) life can be lived quite fully:). I always had a dream to become a diabetes educator since I was a child (aspiring to be a nurse just like Donna Hagerty). I can very happily say that today I am a diabetes educator and truly love going to work every morning to give people facing diabetes not only the facts but also a personal point of view. I am a Diabetes Champion!!! I hope that everyone with diabetes finds their inner champion.

Darius is our son and he is 9 years old.

Just a regular 9 year old — loves video games, reading, arguing with his parents, goofing off and being the best kid that one can have.

Then one day in 2009 he was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes and everything changes forever – the shots, the testing, the stress, the food regimen….

For us, the burden seemed enormous, cruel and unfair. For this kid, just another speed bump in the road of life – no complaints about pricks or whining about food ….simply curiosity, acceptance and a great spirit!

Just a regular 9 year old….one who continues to be who he is and bears this burden lightly – reminding us everyday why he is our hero.

Hi, I’m Michael and I am a Diabetes Champion. Even though I am only 9 years old, I have taken control of my Diabetes and I have learned to deal with it in a very responsible way. I always check my blood levels, I give myself insulin and have learned how to use the insulin pump, I eat very well, and I have the will power to say “NO” to all those incredibly great tasting sweets….because I want to be healthy.

I am a Diabetes Champion because I am an athlete. I train hard, I play hard and I don’t let Diabetes stand in my way. I run track and field, I play high level soccer and I participate in many other sports. I rule, not Diabetes.

I am a Diabetes Champion because I am an advocate. I met with my M.P. and discussed how I would like more government funding, I have used my knowledge about the disease to teach others about diabetes, I have given many speeches in public to let people know how it is to live with Diabetes and I have also raised a lot of money by putting on many fundraising events with my family.

I believe that I am a Diabetes Champion because I believe that I have already made a big difference in the world already and I will continue to do so.

Michael

Sandy Kenefick has lived with type 1 diabetes since she was a teenager and has managed it impeccably ever since. While she has just passed her 50th birthday, she has committed herself to being a dominant force against the disease. In the summer of 2003, she hiked the entire Chilkoot trail along the Yukon/Alaska border — a week in the wilderness with nothing but a backpack and extra vials of insulin. The year following, she trained and ran the full 2004 Vancouver Marathon in just over four hours. Since then, she runs constantly, filing away half-marathons, fun-runs and everything in between. This past summer, she hiked the length of the West Coast trail along the north of Vancouver Island. Another week in the wilderness with a backpack and a camera. She manages two successful businesses, raised a daughter, looks after two energetic dogs, eats healthy, smiles often, and is the kindest, most positive person I’ve every known. She also volunteers at any fundraiser for diabetes that presents itself. I often forget she does all of this while juggling the horrors of her disease. (She also makes a wicked butternut squash soup!)