A benefit was held last weekend to raise money and awareness of juvenile diabetes, a disease that effects 1.4 million people in the United States. Above: Larry and Troy Elwood attended the benefit and supported the cause.|Story, photos and video by Jody Spear and Kelly Meyer
A benefit was held last weekend to raise money and awareness of juvenile diabetes, a disease that effects 1.4 million people in the United States.
Juvenile diabetes mellitus is now more commonly called type 1 diabetes. It is a syndrome with disordered metabolism and inappropriately high blood glucose levels due to a deficiency of insulin secretion in the pancreas. Type 1 diabetes is caused by autoimmune destruction of the B cells of the pancreas, which normally secrete insulin. Those patients require insulin injections for survival.
That’s the medical, and sometimes difficult to understand, definition of juvenile diabetes. What most of us really need to know is if juvenile diabetes is left unmanaged, damage can occur to the eyes, causing blindness; to the blood vessels, increasing risk of heart attack; stroke and peripheral artery obstruction; nerves, leading to foot ulcers; impotence; digestive problems; and the kidneys, leading to kidney failure.
Because of how serious this disease is, and the number of children that hurts, caring people got together for their annual Juvenile Diabetes Benefit at the North Iowa Fairgrounds. The theme of it was the Kentucky Derby, where “Racing For a Cure” comes in. Instead of watching real horses race around the track, people bid on people dressed in horses’ outfits and making a real horses… out of themselves, all in good fun. There were real bets made, with the winnings going to the fund.
Other activities were held to raise dollars for the fund, such as an auction, silent auction, and Lanterns of Hope could be purchased and lit.
Larry Elwood made a big contribution at the end of the auction. The last item up for bid was airtime on KIMT, and the closing bid was $2200. “You can thank my son, Troy. He encouraged me to raise my hand that last time, and now it’s time to get out the checkbook,” Larry said with a big smile. Soon after, Larry and his family were out lighting Lanterns of Hope and releasing them into the sky.
This was just one benefit. More are always going on. If anyone is interested in helping or giving, a good place to go to talk to someone about it is the Decker Housea, ask for Lee or Freddy. They are both very heavily involved in trying to find a cure and would welcome anyone that would like to help.
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