By Russ George
As president of the Diabetes Club of Fox Valley (DCFV), I personally want to thank the 40 community minded individuals who have joined our newly-founded organization.
The entire membership of the Diabetes Club of Fox Valley wishes to thank all the individuals and organizations who have made monetary and in-kind donations to our Club and our causes.
Eleven weeks ago 15 individuals started this new diabetes club, to bring about an awareness of diabetes, provide aid and education for diabetics, while investing in research to find a cure! We want the DCFV to be a true grassroots organization that represents the entire Fox Valley area, where all money raised through dues, donations, and fundraising is used locally for the Club’s diabetic causes.
Members of the Diabetes Club of Fox Valley are raising funds, to assist Jackson and Elliot Webster in obtaining their first Diabetic Alert Dog (DAD).
Jackson and Elliot are seven year old Type 1 diabetic twins, who live in Aurora. They are one set of only 12 sets of Type 1 diabetic twins in the entire 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 twins will begin getting acquainted and trained, along with their school teachers and classmates.
The cost to train a Diabetic Alert Dog is $16,000. It’s an investment that will eliminate numerous trips to the ERs, saving thousands of dollars in hospital stays, along with possibly saving a life. The DCFV has already raised close to $6,000 for the Webster twins Diabetic Alert Dog (DAD).
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 donation to the Diabetes Club of Fox Valley, to aid the Webster twins in obtaining a Diabetic Alert Dog (DAD).
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, Ill. Social/Dinner at 5:30pm. Meetings begin at 6:30 p.m. and individual membership dues are $50 per year.
Have questions or wish to join the DCFV, please send E-mail: Diabetesclubfv@gmail.com.