A Message of Hope, Jessica and James.   Please support me for Tour de Cure

Dear Family and Friends,

My great nephew, James was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 5.  He currently uses an insulin pump which makes his diabetes easier to manage.  He is now 29 years old and now every time he goes for his checkup appointments, his doctor is always quick to point that he is doing well.  His eyes and circulation are good and his glucose tests are within normal range.

However, things were different 60 years ago.  In 1949, at the age of 8, my brother was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.  He had to take shots, from which he had frequent reactions...In his 20's he had surgery to save his rapidly deteriorating eyesight.  His life revolved around a disease that was poorly understood and inadequately treated.  He died of a massive heart attack at age 50.

Great changes have taken place.  Your donations made a difference but there's much more to be done.  Synthetic insulin wasn't used until 1977.  Imagine what the next breakthrough might be.  We can make a difference!

I will be riding 100 miles in Rochester, New York in June.

Please help by making a donation - large or small - to support the work of the American Diabetes Association. As teammates, we can work together to Stop Diabetes!

Whatever you can give will help! I greatly appreciate your support and will keep you posted on my progress.

Thank you for making a contribution to this cause that is so important to me!

Joanie Sewert