TOTAL DONATED: $940
GOAL: $10 000
REMAINING: $9 060

A friend recently called into question my involvement with Team Diabetes Easter Island. She thinks it’s odd that people would do fundraising for something and then be rewarded with a “free vacation” subsidized by the donations they’ve collected.

It’s true, sort of. In exchange for raising a minimum of $7500 for Team Diabetes, I will be able to run a marathon on Easter Island. My flight and accomodations will be covered. Easter Island is in the South Pacific, somewhere between New Zealand and Chile, not a cheap place to get to.

So I re-evaluated what I was doing and why I was doing it. I dont want a free vacation. That’s not what these runs are for - but they are a little bit. That’s a pretty big piece of bait to stick on a lure to get people, who might not otherwise be committed to the cause, interested in Team Diabetes.

And it got me interested. Now I’m ready to lay down a stronger commitment to not only raise money, and train, but to raise awareness about what diabetes is and who is living with it. As I tell people about my run, they start to tell me their personal experiences with Diabetes..

Like Tiffani

I don’t think alot of people get the serverity of this disease unless you know of or live with someone who actually has it. My husband has Type 1 and it’s a daily thing to live with and be worried about.

Like Carolyn

My grandfather had diabetes, the complications from which eventually lead to his death. My mom has just recently (in the last two months) been diagnosed with borderline diabetes. It’s hereditary, so there is a very likely chance that I will have diabetes one day too.

Like Candice

My mom was diagnosed a few years ago - it hits close to him. I used to work for the diabetic centre in vancouver - and learned a lot. I know people that have lost their battle with this disease and I know others that have had it for so many years.

I have made my fundraising goal $10 000 and I have committed to donating all my freelance income to the Team Diabetes cause, it will be more than enough to cover the travel expenses for the trip. Already I have designed a website for a colleague ($250), I have done a voice session for an insurance company ($1000) and I’m doing an endorsement for Apple ($600). Nearly $2000 in just the first month. So I am confident I can cover my own travel expenses. If you have some work you think an engaging radio guy can do for you, please contact me. You’ll get your job done, and get a tax receipt for your Team Diabetes donation.

I’ve also committed to learning more about the disease. With a strong blogging platform, I can write about diabetes what it is, who is fighting it and their struggles. It’s not a personal fight for me, but it is a personal fight for others and that’s why I’m running and raising the money.

We could always use more members on the Team. My run isnt until June 2009, but check out the schedule of other Team Diabetes events you could join:

Dublin - Registration Deadline: April 25, 2008
Marathon Date: October 27, 2008
Distances Available: Full Marathon and 3km

New York - Registration Deadline: May 2, 2008
Marathon Date: November 2008
Distances Available: Full Marathon

Honolulu - Registration Deadline: May 16, 2008
Marathon Date: December 2008
Distances Available: Full Marathon and 10km Race Day Run/Walk

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 18th, 2008 at 6:00 am and is filed under charity, team diabetes.You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.