Raising Awareness on Type 1 Diabetes!
2019 has been an exceptional year for raising public awareness on Type 1 Diabetes. In March of 2019, we collaborated with Rock Star, Bret Michaels, who was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at the age of 6 years old, to support Senate Bill 138 that California State Senator, Richard Roth, authored. This bill would bring educational materials on T1D through our California school districts to their respective schools, to parents/guardians of K-12 grade students. The bill made it through four committees but did not pass in Appropriations due to costs associated with implementation. We plan to meet with both Senator Roth and Bret Michaels next year to see how we move forward.
In May, we hired Coldea Productions to produce a series of Public Service Announcements to help educate the public on both the symptoms to the onset of T1D, and to what exactly T1D is and isn’t. It seems much of the public is unaware that T1D is an autoimmune disease, not caused by diet or lifestyle, and that any one at any age can be diagnosed. We feel our PSA’s do a good job at explaining the definition. We had a good response to these PSA’s and are grateful for everyone who shared them. All six PSA’s can be found on our website at https://www.easet1d.org/
Getting ready for National Diabetes Awareness Month takes months of preparation. We worked with our City of Corona, Corona Fire Department, and Corona Police Department in an effort to help raise public awareness. We were honored to once again receive a Proclamation from our City of Corona Mayor, Jason Scott, declaring November as National Diabetes Awareness Month. We were thrilled to partner for a second year with our Corona Fire Department, and this year also with our Corona Police Department. A big thank you to both Fire Chief, Brian Young, and Police Chief, George Johnstone, for their support of our cause.
Many of our Corona-Norco Unified School District (CNUSD) schools supported National Diabetes Awareness Month (NDAM) by hanging banners and wearing blue on World Diabetes Day, November 14th. We’d like to thank all schools who participated and thank our parents who helped make this happen!
This year we wanted to turn social media blue by asking our diabetes community to share their NDAM pictures with the hashtag #GoBigGoBoldGoBlue! Although some did participate, we want this to grow bigger for next year. Our hope is to get the NFL to GO BLUE for a televised game during the month of November! Maybe JDRF can make this happen since they are collaborating with so many players to help raise awareness.
We ended NDAM with a T1D family get together to help give support and connect our families with others who may be new to the world of diabetes. There is nothing like having support from others who know exactly what you go through on a day-to-day basis. We feel honored to be a part of this community who shows kindness to one another, support for one another, and give of their time for one another. You are all amazing, and we thank you for your continued support of our mission.
If you would like to make a year-end, tax-deductible donation to support our cause, please go to www.easet1d.org/donate. We appreciate your support of our mission.
We look forward to what 2020 has in store!
Warm Regards,
Debbie George
Founder,
EASE T1D