When Wallaceburg resident Brennan Douglas was 10-years-old, he was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes.
Now 15 and just finishing Grade 9, Brennan has been an advocate for the disease helping raise funds for an annual walk, which takes place in Pain Court each year.
“You go around getting money to help raise money for those people that can’t afford the pump and some of the stuff for it,” he said. “Some of the money also goes to help find a cure for it.”
The walk, which is sponsored by Telus and includes over 23 groups from the Wallaceburg, Chatham, and Tilbury area, takes place tomorrow (June 22).
Last year Brennan raised over $5,000, with this year following up with raising close to another $2,000.
Marielaine Douglas, Brennan’s mom, said when she found out her son was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes, they were just heading to the Relay For Life event in Chatham.
“We were just going to walk the track, because his dad is a cancer survivour.
Marielaine said when he was first diagnosed, their first bill was $2,700 for everything they needed.
“Donations for the walk go towards awareness for juvenile diabetes and help kids that can’t afford a lot of the supplies for the pump and everything,” she said. “It’s quite expensive, the pump itself it a little over $7,000. Being on needles, every time you eat you’ve got to give an injection. It’s trying to help kids get them started on it.”
Marielaine said her son was lucky, only having to wait 10 months for a pump. Now you have to wait two years.
Having taken part in the Pain Court walk since 2011, Marielaine said it means a lot to her family and her son.
“It is sad that children have diabetes, but these kids are learning at a very young age that going out and volunteering and trying to make the future better for kids future means a lot,” she said. “People have did it for them by stepping up and helping their life.”
Marielaine said raising awareness about juvenile diabetes helps eliminate the stigma with the disease.
“Brennan had a real bad situation where a guy said to him, we only support cancer, we don’t support diabetes, it’s not a real disease,” she said. “It’s really kind of sad that people don’t understand, they think it is because of weight or health or because you eat junk food. Type 1 diabetes, people don’t understand your pancreas just quits. It has nothing to do with the way you eat.”
Registration opens at 9 a.m. tomorrow for the walk.
The event itself will get started at 10:30 a.m.
