About I Challenge Diabetes: Driving Forward
They say it takes a village… no one knows that more than a parent of a child with a self-managed health condition like type 1 diabetes. Children as young as 4 are expected to “self-manage” diabetes at schools all across Canada, including identifying low blood sugars, trends, and administering insulin because of fear a school staff member should not handle a needle. Many families have to advocate to get their child support or sacrifice their careers to provide that support themselves.
This is why I Challenge Diabetes’ (ICD) year round programming is so critical. We are THE ONLY charity providing a variety of programming, year round, that supports youth and their families living with diabetes with medical care in an individual dynamic program targeted at learning independence & building strategies, routines, & peer support to normalize their condition. We have a dedicated leadership team that helps create over 5000 program participant opportunities (2023.)
The camp staff and volunteers are passionate and have been excited to hear camp numbers are up again for the 4th straight year! So when ICD learned that Canada Summer Jobs funding was cut in early May, by over $90,000 from 2023, a difference of 10% of our total revenue, we had to ask ourselves if we should cancel camp. Our leadership, from the board down to the staff firmly stood behind these programs.
Our initial call for support has shown us what community is. Over the last month, we’ve seen the leaders of this village rise up, with Di Benedetto Racing offering the roof of their car to recognize any new donors who are able to financially support our village so that each family can continue to turn to I Challenge Diabetes for their support.
We’ve also partnered a groundbreaking device called "the Insujet", a device that will remove the needle for those who inject insulin multiple times a day! The Insujet team is not only supporting this programming, but will help ICD remove barriers for people living with type 1 diabetes across Canada.
Many of us have experienced a great coach we’ve looked up to. Your Donation today will go directly to fund the programs where our kids have access to coaches living with T1D. You will support the our decision NOT to cut a single camp, but to Drive Forward. Donors committed by July 14th will can have their names on the roof of Justin Di Benedetto Racing’s car for the Toronto Honda Indy on July 19th-21st!