Fix You

What an interesting idea...Fix You. No more needles. No more finger pokes for blood tests. No more hospital trips. No more midnight tests. No worries of the longer term health issues. Diabetes Fixed!

I guess this is the dream of every parent, family member or friend of a person living with diabetes. This is what drives us to ask our friends for money to support research, to get involved to raise awareness of what it means to live with diabetes. I guess over the last 18 months all the things that need to be done to keep my daughter healthy, have become so natural in our lives, that when we tell friends, or other people we come in contact with that having diabetes means, a least a 120 injections of insulin a month, 200 finger pokes in order to test her blood sugar, midnight tests, 3:00 am tests they are very surprised. I think a lot of folks they know that insulin is what you take for diabetes so you take a shot and your good. Its not a cure its our life line.

I have just returned from having had the privilege of attending the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's Annual General Meeting. Where I met some of the most amazing people, other parents, JDRF employees and researchers, all of whom are so dedicated to the promise of the promise of curing Type I diabetes, what a humbling experience. I encourage you to check out the JDRF website and learn about some of the incredible research work being done in Canada and around the world. www.jdrf.ca

On the theme of Fix You check out the video produced during last years Cyclebetes National Relay, its what sealed the deal for me to get involved and join the ride this year. http://www.vimeo.com/6552324. If it inspires you please donate to http://jdrfca.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.participant&eventID=777&participantID=44593

P.s. What a great Fathers Day. Recieved my home made gold award, a nice long training ride on the new bike this morning, then took both girls out to a local trail for a little family ride then back home for great dinner.

Cyclebetes at Halifax Telus Walk to Cure Diabetes

What a great Sunday at the Telus walk to cure diabetes this past Sunday June 13th in Halifax. My daughters team "Team Megan" raised a little over $1,100.00 dollars, contributing to the Halifax total of more than $103,000.00. A number of our friends and family were able to join us for the walk.

The Maritime Relay Team setup an information both during the event to promote the Halifax Community ride we are organizing for morning of the start of the National Relay. We setup a couple of bike trainers and spent a little time spinning prior to and after the walk.

The Morning of the Aug 14th we are planning a great kick off at Black Rock Beach in Halifax including a kids bike obstacle coarse, a 5 and 10 km family ride as well as a 100km ride with the team to Truro.

Friday Rant

Well as any of you that know me know that I am not a political guy, and have always had at least the belief that people elected to run this country were doing it for the most part for the better good. That being said, as a father with a child with a serious health concern (Type I diabetes) I am outraged that the Canadian Government is spending $1,000,000,000 tax payer dollars in order to provide security for the G8/G20 later this month in Ontario, while the country is experiencing health care shortages, funding cuts and forcing hospitals and other service organizations to fund raise money for basic services.

What would $1,000,000,000 dollars to to help cure Juvenile diabetes or at the very least provide essential blood testing/monitoring tools to help manage the long term life with diabetes? How about buying 100,000 insulin pumps, for the children, adults living with Type I diabetes that do not have sufficient medical insurance....that's a start. I somehow see this as a better long term use of money that building a 12 foot fence around a whole of wilderness north of Toronto, or a fake lake. Not only would this provide a better short term treatment, but would continue to save money, as with better treatment and control Diabetics will have far fewer health issues that would lead to even more strain on our health care budgets.