South Sound Branch News & Events
Introducing Danielle Carriveau – Puyallup Teen Living with Diabetes and Team Captain of ‘DJ Gang’
“On September 25, 2006, I was diagnosed with diabetes at the age of 15. I was sent to Mary Bridge Hospital in Tacoma, Washington, where I would spend the next three days. The educators and nurses started me on insulin and taught me what diabetes is and how to control it. At first it was a lot of information and all I really wanted to do was try to realize what really was going on with me. I decided I had to learn about this disease and I had to control it, not let it control me.
I was involved in sports and the normal activities of being an average teenager. With diabetes, I still play golf and fastpitch- I just needed to learn how to control my blood sugars when I play. Since September of 2006, I have lettered in golf at Puyallup High School (PHS) twice and went to the state tournament in 2007 as an alternate and will return in May of 2008. My fastpitch playing has not slowed down either. I play for PHS where I was awarded 1st Team SPSL South in 2007 and plan to play with my team in 2008. Besides high school, I play for a select team, “WA MsStix”, year round. Diabetes has not slowed me down as an athlete.
My first JDRF Walk for a Cure was in 2007 and my team, “DJ Gang” will be back in May 2008. The walk is just one way to show your support for diabetes either by donation or joining a team. Diabetes has helped me live my life to the fullest every day and has given me different view on life.”
Danielle is a teen mentor for the 2008 South Sound Walk to Cure Diabetes. During the next few months, Danielle will be sharing her personal accounts of living with type 1 diabetes with our South Sound Walkers. Walkers will also receive information from Danielle about the School Team and Kids Walk programs, her own team’s progress, and general South Sound Walk to Cure news and events. Danielle’s determination to lead a normal life, and even excel at sports and school, has been an inspiration to JDRF and we are certain she will inspire you and your teams as well.
Welcome Bobby Erickson: 2008 South Sound Walk Family Team Chairman
Bobby Erickson has accepted the volunteer position as your Family Team Chairman for the 2008 JDRF South Sound Walk to Cure Diabetes on May 31st. Bobby has been an inspiration to South Sound Walkers since he formed a Walk team two years ago. Through creative fundraising, he and his team, “Jake’s Crew”, have raised over $20,000 for diabetes research. Bobby sends out letters, uses email and websites such as MySpace and YouTube, and has created a video about his inspiration- his son Jake. Those who sign up as a South Sound Family Team Walker will receive periodic emails from Bobby from February through the Walk on May 31st.
We encourage any existing or first-time Walkers to visit Bobby’s personal fundraising webpage and view his personal video on YouTube for ideas about your own fundraising campaigns.
Message from Bobby:
Jake was diagnosed in December of 2005 at the Age of 2 ½. I got involved, along with the rest of Jake’s family, with the JDRF because we wanted to do something that would make a difference and help find a cure for diabetes. I’ve also found JDRF to be a great resource for information and a great way to connect with other families going through the same experiences.
Even 2 yrs. after his diagnosis we still have stumbling blocks, fears, and rough days. He’s an active and growing boy so it’s tough to maintain great control and can be very stressful on all of us. I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again, he is a shining star when it comes to having to do all the finger pokes and insulin shots, or “treatments” as we refer to them.
I know for me I look at the Walk, in some way as my “therapy”. It’s always encouraging and rewarding to see all the love and support we get, and it’s a day where I feel like I’m making a difference in so many young people’s lives, not just Jake’s.
In 2006 when we initially formed Jake’s Crew - a team of 21 walkers, I could never imagine how quickly our team would grow. Having 69 walkers last year and raising almost $12,000 was an amazing feeling and I hope we can grow those numbers again this year.
To me the Walk is all about getting out and having fun while at the same time, hopefully raising a lot of money to help find a Cure for Diabetes.
1st Annual South Sound Gingerbread Village a Huge Success!
It started as a casual conversation between JDRF South Sound Board President, Kim Pepin, JDRF Community Outreach Chair, Vanessa Sawyer and BCRA Principal, Stuart Young. Kim and Vanessa asked Stuart if the Tacoma based architectural firm would be interested in participating in JDRF’s annual Gingerbread Village event in Seattle. Stuart wasn’t interested in sponsoring a Seattle event but asked if JDRF ever thought about doing a similar event in the South Sound. That sparked an impulse in Kim and Vanessa and they immediately began setting up meetings and making phone calls to make it happen. In the weeks to come, Kim had spent dozens of volunteer hours recruiting sponsors, enrolling architects, enlisting volunteers, and contacting the media and local political leaders. The first annual JDRF South Sound Gingerbread Village was off and running.
BCRA acted as Presenting Sponsor and principal architect of the program, providing sponsorship funds, underwriting, architectural expertise, and dozens of hours of volunteer time to organize the charity program. BCRA partnered with the Tacoma School of the Arts (SOTA) and Bates Technical College to design and build the gingerbread house displays. Students from SOTA and Bates got the opportunity to learn from and collaborate with industry professionals. Sponsorship from local architects and construction firms was the primary source of fundraising, raising over $5,000 for diabetes research.
The three gingerbread structures were displayed at Cutters Point coffee houses in Tacoma and at Java Fusion on 6th Avenue in Tacoma. They were on display from November 19th-27th then moved to the Mary Bridge Festival of Trees, where they were auctioned off and taken home by three local families. JDRF would like to thank the employees at BCRA and the students at Tacoma School of the Arts and Bates Technical College for the hundreds of hours of volunteer time they put in to make this program a success. Their creativity and hard work helped raise money for a cure and spread awareness about type 1 diabetes throughout the South Sound.
Thank You to our Sponsors and Architects:
JDRF Northwest - South Sound Branch Board of Directors
Mike Burton Eric Gabrielson Dee Gahan Anthony George Michelle McCain |
Cathy Rigg Vanessa Sawyer Dave Corry Dave Hombach Kim Ballentine Pepin John Margo Jude Restis |
Bowen Scott Charla Skaggs Georgia Spiropoulos Heather Stone Jane Valley Meg VanSchoorl Jane Wehrli Renea Zosel |
Your JDRF South Sound Event Staff
Brad Benson – South Sound Event Manager
Phone: 206.838.5153
Email: bbenson@jdrf.org
Brad grew up in the South Sound and currently resides in South Seattle with his wife Amy and 1 year old son, Noah. Much of his family resides in Southeast Alaska and he is a member of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes, a group that has acutely suffered the affects of diabetes. His connection to diabetes through family and the many friends he’s made as a six-year employee of JDRF has made finding the cure a very personal cause for him. Brad has managed the South Sound events for the last three years, which have experienced enormous growth both in number of participants and fundraising revenue. Throughout his tenure at JDRF Northwest, he has taken leadership roles in all chapter events including Walks, Golf Tournaments, Galas and community outreach events. He is now responsible for all aspects of the South Sound Walk to Cure Diabetes, On the Greens Golf Tournament & Dinner Auction, and works with JDRF volunteers and the board of directors to expand diabetes education throughout the South Sound. Brad enjoys the personal interaction with JDRF supporters and strives to make everyone’s experience with JDRF positive and meaningful.
Sarah Popelka – JDRF Northwest, Special Events Director
Direct line: 206.838.5157
Email: spopelka@jdrf.org
Sarah is originally from Bedford, Iowa – a small town in SW Iowa. Sarah’s personal connection and motivation for a cure is fueled by her mother’s fight with the disease. At the age of 6, Sarah’s mother was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and has lived with the disease for over 50 years now. Despite her mother’s extremely regimented care and knowledge as a nurse, she has seen many complications from diabetes and lives with the threat of a shortened lifespan everyday. Fundraising for a cure is the one thing that Sarah feels can make a difference in her family’s life. She began her career at JDRF in August of 2000 in the Chicago Chapter of JDRF as a Walk Coordinator. In April of 2003 – Sarah and her husband Mike decided to move to the great Northwest. Initially Sarah worked for the American Heart Association managing a Gala and a Golf Tournament, and then found herself back at JDRF in February of 2004 managing Beat the Bridge. Sarah will be the main staff contact for the South Sound Board and will be working closely with Nadine to help the South Sound Board realize its full potential. Sarah is also ultimately responsible for Beat the Bridge, all Chapter Walk, Golf and Ride income.