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Tom and Luca in the Classroom
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Dear Friends and Family
I am Luca’s teacher. His favorite activity is “creation bin” where he uses recycled packaging materials to make everything from vacuum cleaners to spaceships. I just love to watch him build racetracks in the block area. He works hard in all his academic pursuits. He likes to read about sharks and crocodiles. When he goes outside he frolics in the woods, building forts and bridges. Sometimes he plays football and “flyers up”. Luca reaches out to all his classmates and tries to include everyone in the fun. Since Luca found out he has diabetes, he has set a great example for his friends by learning about the disease and taking good care of himself. He doesn’t like to miss his outside time to eat a snack when his blood sugar level is low, but he does what he needs to do. His classmates are fascinated to watch him check his blood sugar level several times a day, but they are also very curious, and somewhat concerned. Luca takes time to share what he knows about blood sugar, insulin, and diet. Luca is a brave boy with lots of love in his heart and big ideas in his brain. Let’s help Luca and all children with diabetes by finding a cure so that he doesn’t have to skip any more outside time!
About Diabetes
Did you know that more than one million Americans have juvenile (type 1) diabetes; a disease which strikes children suddenly, makes them insulin dependent for life, and carries the constant threat of devastating complications. Someone is diagnosed with juvenile diabetes every hour. It can and does strike adults as well.
In juvenile diabetes, a person's pancreas produces little or no insulin, a hormone necessary to sustain life. Although the causes are not entirely known, scientists believe the body's own immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. It is not caused by obesity or by eating excessive sugar, which are two common myths about juvenile diabetes. Each year approximately 30,000 Americans are diagnosed with juvenile diabetes, over 13,000 of whom are children. That's 35 children each and every day.
We need people like you on my team.
I know diabetes likely touches your life in some way. Think about the ways that diabetes has impacted those around you. The money we raise will go to find a cure and bring and end to this disease for the millions who have to endure its deadly complications.
We need your support, so please do anything you can, make a donation on my behalf or register as an individual if you'd like to participate in the event. The more the merrier!
Thank you so much for all of your support. With your help I'm sure to Beat the Bridge and help Beat diabetes.
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