By Russ George
Members of the Diabetes Club of Fox Valley (DCFV) are continuing to raise funds, to assist Jackson and Elliot Webster in obtaining two Diabetic Alert Dogs (DADs).
Jackson and Elliot are seven-year-old Type 1 diabetic twins, who live in Aurora, Ill.. They are one set of only 12 sets of Type 1 diabetic twins in the United States.
Training a Diabetic Alert Dog (DAD) takes two years from when the handler/trainer begins working with a dog. After approximately 22 months of training, the family and one of the twins will begin getting acquainted and trained, along with school teachers and classmates.
Then the process starts all over again for the other twin, taking another two years. A total of four years at a cost of $32,000, will eliminate numerous trips to the ERs and save thousands of dollars on hospital stays.
Money raised through donations and fundraisers for the Webster twins are held in the Club’s “Jerry Youngren Diabetic Alert Dog Memorial Fund.”
Jerry Youngren was diagnosed with Juvenile Type 1 Diabetes at the age of 11, lived with diabetes for almost 70 years. Jerry managed his diabetes with a true dedication to diet and exercise, a daily approach, never compromised. He was presented with the Eli Lilly Award for his length of years living with Type 1 Diabetes.
Thanks to Barb Youngren, wife of Jerry Youngren, and family, for establishing the “Jerry Youngren Diabetic Alert Dog Fund” through the Diabetes Club of Fox Valley, to help diabetics in the Fox Valley area to obtain Diabetic Alert Dogs (DADs).
Please consider making a year-end donation to the Diabetes Club of Fox Valley, to aid the Webster twins in obtaining Diabetic Alert Dogs (DADs).
Mail your tax deductible donation to: Diabetes Club of Fox Valley, P.O. Box 88, North Aurora, IL 60542
The Diabetes Club of Fox Valley meets on the second Thursday of each month at the historic Gray’s Mill Estate, 211 N. River Street, Montgomery, IL 60538 Social/Dinner at 5:30 p.m.. Meetings will begin at 6:30 p.m..
For questions or information on joining the DCFV, please send E-mail to: Diabetesclubfv@gmail.com.
— Diabetes Club of Fox Valley