By Russ George
Thursday morning, November 20, 15 members and friends of the Diabetes Club of Fox Valley hopped on Fox Valley Park District’s bus and headed out to the University of Chicago’s-Kovler Diabetes Center’s research facility, on the eighth floor, of the Gwen and Jules Knapp Center for Biomedical Discovery building at 900 E. 57th Street, in Chicago.
I was surprised the ride in was less than a hour, and the bus driver dropped us off right in front of the building, where Jen Petitte, administrative assistant for Kovler, welcomed us, got us into the building through all the security, and onto the elevators, up to the eighth floor.
Prior to the start of the tour we heard from Peggy Hasenauer, executive director of Kovler, who helped start Kovler, with Dr. Louis Phillipson, a renowned endocrinologist and a world authority on diabetes. We also heard from the head research doctor, Raghu Mirmira, who had graduated from UChicago almost 30 years ago, gave us a complete update on the research they are doing at Kovler.
The tour was excellent, as we heard from several lab technicians and students about the research they’re working on!
This was my second tour over the last 15 years, and was even more impressed, as I truly believe, if a cure for diabetes ever happens, it’ll be at UChicago Medicine’s-Kovler Diabetes Center!
The Diabetes Club of Fox Valley members have donated $10,000 this year to the Kovler Diabetes Center, for research to find a cure for diabetes!
Members of the Diabetes Club of Fox Valley wish to thank our members Peggy Hasenauer, Jen Petitte and Ann McBride, along with the Fox Valley Park District, for making this tour possible!
The Diabetes Club of Fox Valley members meet monthly, on the second Wednesday of each month, January through November, at Oak Street Restaurant, 945 Oak Street, in North Aurora. Meetings begin at 6:30 p.m.. Guests are always welcome!
Members of the Diabetes Club of Fox Valley work together, to provide diabetes awareness in the Fox Valley area, while raising funds to provide aid and education for diabetics, along with investing in research to find a cure.
The Diabetes Club of Fox Valley is a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization. A true grassroots organization, where all money raised through dues, donations and fundraising is used for the club’s fight against diabetes.
Tax deductible donations can be made on our website: diabeteshelpnearme.com or mail your tax deductible donation to: Diabetes Club of Fox Valley, P.O. Box 88, North Aurora, Illinois 60542.
Why not join our fight against diabetes? You don’t need to be diabetic to be a member of our club! Yearly individual membership dues are $50. Students $25. Corporate dues are $150 per year, which includes a sponsorship listing on our website: www.diabeteshelpnearme.com.
Have questions about the Diabetes Club of Fox Valley, please call, text or send an E-mail with your name and address to president Russ George, 630-205-9065 or send Email: Diabetesclubfv@gmail.com.
Please continue to keep informed about our club’s upcoming events, by following us in The Voice, on Facebook, and on our website: diabeteshelpnearme.com.