It's a Scentsy Fundraiser!!!

Fundraisers are always fun, aren't they?! I know I always have fun when I host a fundraiser!

This month, I called my good friend Carrie Cook, who recently started a Scentsy business, and asked her if I could host a Scentsy Fundraiser with her!

Of course, she said yes =)

She has been kind enough to donate 15% of every Scentsy order to Team Lenny's Fundraiser Page! You rock, Carrie!

If you have never heard of Scentsy... then you have got to head over to her website and check out all the awesome products they offer!

They have some beautiful electric warmers and wonderful wax brick scents that will fill your room with sweetness! Their wax bricks come in many colors and fragrances! My personal favorite is the Black Raspberry Vanilla. MMMM Love it!

For those of you with pets or small children... keep in mind that Scentsy's electric warmers are much safer to have than candles... there is no flame! No wick! So no worries of anyone accidentally catching something on fire! That's one thing I love the most about Scentsy products!

Now, this fundraiser is only available between today and March 31, 2012! Remember, 15% of all orders placed on our Team Lenny Scentsy Fundraiser through Carrie's site will go toward helping to raise money for a CURE for diabetes! Our kids need a cure... and why not make your house smell wonderful while helping to get our kids one step closer to that cure?!

To visit Carrie's Scentsy website and place an order with our Fundraiser/Party page, CLICK HERE. Don't forget to "Like" her Facebook Fan Page and stay updated on all the great new products and promotions!

Thank you all in advance for any orders you place. Every little bit helps our wonderful cause! If you have any questions at all, please feel free to Like Carrie's Facebook Fan Page and post them on there, and she will be sure to answer all of your questions!

An Update On Our Fundraising Efforts!

As you know... our family has been busy working on some fundraising efforts to help raise money for the Blair County Diabetes Walk.

You may remember, last month we held a Scentsy Online Fundraiser with my friend, Chris Bowen. I wanted to give you an update on how the fundraiser went!

We were able to raise $32.66 with this fundraiser! How awesome!! Thank you Chris for being so helpful and helping us support this cause!

On top of the Scentsy Online Fundraiser, we also collected $24.43 indirect donations. In total, so far we have raised $57.09 for the Walk, benefiting the Diabetes Research Institute!

To further our efforts between now and June 4th, today I walked around my little town and distributed Diabetes Research Institute Donation Cans at some local businesses.

A big thank you to the following businesses who are helping us:

• James' Drug in Portage, PA
• Fox's Pizza in Cresson, PA
• Mainline Pharmacy in Cresson, PA
• Shop N Save in Cresson, PA
• Route 53 Diner in Cresson, PA
• Cresson Springs Family Restaurant in Cresson, PA

Thank you all for supporting our cause and helping us to raise awareness and money for the Blair County Diabetes Walk!

I am also working on some other fundraising ideas in the meantime to further help raise money and awareness for diabetes and the Blair County Diabetes Walk, so be sure to check back here often for an update on what we have going on!

If you would like to help support Team Lenny and the Blair County Diabetes Walk, we currently are looking for the following:

• Monetary Donations: Monetary donations can be made by clicking on the Paypal Donate Button located on the left sidebar.
• Business Product Basket Donations: We are currently looking for businesses who would like to donate a basket full of products to be raffled off at the Diabetes Walk. For questions, or more information, please email me at T1DTeamLenny@Gmail.com with the subject title "Product Donation"
• Business/Corporate Sponsors: We are looking for corporate sponsors who would be willing to sponsor Team Lenny and help us raise awareness and money for the cause. For questions or more information, please email me at T1DTeamLenny@gmail.com with the subject title " Corporate Sponsor"
• Other: Do you have an idea on other ways we can work together to help raise money for The Cause? We are open to any and all suggestions, so feel free to email me at T1DTeamLenny@gmail.com with the subject title "Fundraiser Ideas"!

Thanks to everyone who has helped make the Scentsy Online Fundraiser a huge success, and everyone continuing to help us in this Fight Against Diabetes! The diabetes community, technology, and understanding of this disease wouldn't be where it is today without your help! I, my son, and my family, thank you all from the bottom of our hearts!

Heart

A lot of talk has been going around our household lately. Talk about our upcoming Diabetes Walk. Talk about fundraising efforts.

I wanted to share with you all something he did this weekend.

You see, every weekend, he stays with my inlaws.

He loves going to their house, playing the Wii (and kicking "G" and Pap's tail at Wii Bowling! LOL!), and growing wonderful crops like corn, peppers, tomatoes, peas, beans, squash, etc etc.

He is what has inspired me to start gardening here at home.

Anyway. He came home from G and Pap's house Sunday night while I was napping. When I woke up, my husband informed me that Lenny had something to show me.

Lenny came trotting into the room, carrying this bag, then handed it to me. As soon as I read what it said, my eyes began to fill with tears.

Then, I was told the story behind it. (Prepare yourselves, mama's! I'm sure many of you will find it to be a tear-jerker as I have! LOL!)

My husband filled me in on the story.(Paraphrasing the story as I can't describe it the same way it was told, but you'll get the hint!) He said, Lenny was messing with one of the piggy banks he has at my inlaws house. Then, appearently, he told my inlaws that he wanted to take the money out of the piggy bank, and put that money toward a cure.

My baby boy. He didn't want to spend the money on a toy, or video game. He wanted to give the money he's saved to The Cure.

He wants a cure so badly he can taste it.

He is such a great Diabetes Advocate. Always willing to talk to anyone, even strangers, about his diabetes. I've never heard him talk about it to others in a negative light, but, you can tell he wants people to know about it, know he has it, and know he wants a cure.

You may remember a previous post I made back in February about a talk we had with Lenny about the Tooth Fairy. The one where he asked if he could donate the money that the Tooth Fairy gives him for losing his teeth, to the cure.

Conversations like these happen all over the world. In thousands of families homes. With children as young, and even younger, as well as older.

Children and adults living with this condition pray for a cure every day of their lives.
While, they do learn to cope, manage, and live a happy and healthy life, they still, deep down, wish they never had this disease.

Families like ours do everything they can to help make their child's dreams a reality.

This is what these kids want the most.

A Cure.

Will you help us help these kids?

Busy, Busy

I just wanted to post a quick post saying sorry for being away for so long!

We have been busy, busy the last couple weeks. I've been working hard to get the word out about the Scentsy Online Fundraiser out, brainstorming and working on some fundraiser projects to help raise money for the Blair County Diabetes Walk, and some personal things going on.

I hope to be back to my regular postings very soon!

In the meantime... let's hear what kind of projects  YOU are working on to raise money and awareness for Diabetes!

Scentsy Online Fundraiser



 My dear friend, Chris Bowen, has agreed to help us raise money for the Blair County Diabetes Walk this year!!!

Chris is gracious enough to donate 20% of every Scentsy order to our Blair County Diabetes Walk--benefiting the Diabetes Research Institute-- The BEST Hope For A Cure!

Scentsy offers beautiful warmers, both plug-in warmers and regular ones (like the Heavenly Plug-In warmer to the left!), Scentsy bars & bricks, and much more!

If you love candles (like me!), you are going to LOVE Scentsy Products!

Our goal for the Blair County Diabetes Walk is to raise $20,000 to donate to the DRI  for a cure, for thousands of kids like my son, Lenny! This fundraiser is just one of our efforts to reach that goal! Every order and donation, no matter how big or small, will help!

This fundraiser is scheduled to stay open from March 1st through March 25th!!!

So, if you love candles, and better yet, Wickless candles, pop on over to Chris's Scentsy page, click on the "Blair County Diabetes Walk" party, and place an order today! Remember, 20% of every order is donated to the DRI- The BEST Hope For A CURE!

You can check out all the products that Scentsy has to offer by Clicking here. If you do not see "Blair County Diabetes Walk" in large font at the top of the page, you will need to select "Blair County Diabetes Walk" from the party selections for  your purchase to be counted toward our fundraising efforts.

Thank you all for all your support! Every little bit helps in reaching our goal!

Life For A Child

Wendy, at Candy Hearts, is on a mission!

She has vowed to raise $1 for every child needing life-saving insulin and other diabetic supplies who can not afford to buy it themselves.

Thats $100,000!! WOW!

I applaud her in her efforts, her enthusiasm and high spirits, and her "take the bull by the horns" attitude on this matter! WAY TO GO WENDY!

I encourage you all to go visit her blog, read her blog entry about what she is doing to help these families, these children, get the necessary medications and supplies they need to survive living with Type 1 Diabetes.

Blair County Diabetes Walk--Online Fundraiser

I've been meaning to post about this.

The organizers of our local Blair County, PA Diabetes Walk are working together with a representative of AVON, Beverly Lavelli, on an online fundraiser to support diabetes research.

Beverly is also a Type 1 Diabetic. In fact, (and I thought this was really cute!), her profile picture on Facebook says "Selling AVON Pays For My Insulin"! How cute is that!

If you love AVON products, and love to help with good causes, then this is the fundraiser for you!




Avon Mens Black Suede 4-piece Collection


And, guess what! AVON has lots of men and kids products as well! With Valentines Day creeping up on us fast, this is a perfect time to place an order for your loved ones, while supporting a great cause! 




Avon 18-in. Doll Carrying Case


If you go to Beverly's AVON site and place an order, be sure to use the code LFTWALK at checkout. By using this code, it will ensure that the Blair County Diabetes Walk receives 30% of your total order toward the fundraising efforts!

Proceeds of the Blair County Diabetes Walk are donated to the Diabetes Research Institute- The BEST Hope For A Cure!

Thank you to all who have helped to make this fundraiser great, and to those who continue to place an order. This online fundraiser is scheduled to end on February 19th.

Have fun shopping, and thank you for your support!!!

Thank You James' Drug Store, Mainline Medical Associates, and Mainline Physical Therapy!

I would like to thank a few more places tonight!

Thank you to James' Drug Store in Portage, PA, as well as Mainline Medical Associates and Mainline Physical Therapy, both of which are located in Cresson, PA for your support this year in Diabetes Awareness Month!

You all have agreed to help the diabetes community raise awareness to diabetes, and raise money for diabetes research by selling the Diabetes Research Institute's Paper Snoopies!

Thank you all!

To my wonderful readers:

If you would like to help raise awareness and funds for diabetes research in your local community by asking your local pharmacies to help by getting involved and selling Diabetes Research Institute Paper Snoopies, please feel free to comment or email me at T1DTeamLenny@gmail.com for more information on how to receive the paper snoopies and any other help/suggestions you may need!

Let's Help Make An Impact In Children In Need

As a mother of a child with diabetes, I sometimes overlook just how special and blessed we are. We have medical insurance that covers all the costs of our children's medical needs, advanced technology to help us better manage our child's health condition, knowledgeable doctors, dietitians, school nurses, and family members working on our side in a team effort to bring the best possible care to our child, and so much more.

I sometimes (ok, often times), don't think about how other families in other states and countries, may not have access to many of these things we take advantage of in our own personal lives. I often forget that there may be children out there, children with Type 1 Diabetes, that may not have access to insulin.

There is a video taking the diabetes community on line by storm!

A video that was put together to help these children in need of insulin!

This video is trying to reach 100,000 views in the next week! The good news, its halfway there! WOOHOO!

By clicking and watching this video, and sharing it with your friends to do the same, we can help this video reach 100,000 views in no time!

Once 100,000 views is reached, Roche, the makers of Accu-Chek products will donate $75,000 to buy insulin for children in need.

The video is less than two minutes, and sends a powerful message and will help so many children in need!

So, what do you say, will you watch it with me?! Share it with me?!



Watch it. Watch it again. Share it.

I have, will you?!

A Special Thank You

I would like to send a few special Thank  You's to some families, friends, and local community residents.

First and foremost, I would like to thank my Mother-in-Law. She took the kids out for trick or treating this year with a simple, yet powerful idea... to turn the trick or treating event into a fundraiser opportunity!

She had originally told me about her idea a few weeks ago, and I thought it was such a cute idea! Below is the costume the kids wore for trick or treating this year:

They carried a can that I received in the DRI Pep Pac to collect money, instead of candy this year, to be donated to the DRI to help find a cure!

I would also like to send a very special thank you to the staff and volunteers working at the Reade Volunteer Fire Company, Inc. for their generous donation of $50! You all touch the lives of so many people on a daily basis, but on Halloween night, you have also touched the souls of many more... many of which you may never even meet. Thank You!

Last, but certainly not least, I would like to thank all the families and friends who have helped to turn Halloween and this idea into a great success! You all hold a very special place in my heart! Your generosity has touched the lives and souls of thousands of children and adults across the nation! You will never be forgotten!

Thank you all! Speaking for myself, when my mother in law called me on Halloween night after they were done trick or treating, to tell me the stories about meeting you all and talking with  you all, it really touched me to see how so many people can come together and support each other in finding a cure for diabetes. It was such an inspiration! Diabetes touches the lives of thousands of people every day, whether directly (having diabetes) or indirectly (having a friend or loved one with diabetes). Your contributions and help in our fight to cure diabetes, no matter how big or small, is greatly appreciated across the diabetes community!

Thank you!

I would like to note that, this fun and simple idea that my Mother-In-Law did with the kids for Halloween generated a total of $88.90 donated to the Diabetes Research Institute & Foundation to help find a cure for Diabetes! Thank you all!

What "Diabetes Awareness Month" Means To Me

What does Diabetes Awareness Month mean to me? Honestly, a lot. Too much to really put into words. On October 6, 2008, my son, Lenny, who was 3 ½ years old at the time, was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. That day, and the many weeks that followed, was an emotional roller coaster for our entire family. As time went on, we learned how to accept and manage his condition, and look to the future.
Diabetes Awareness Month, to me, means helping others learn more about Diabetes, the differences between Type 1 and Type 2, how serious it can be, sharing the ups and downs of the disease with others, and embracing those you love with and without diabetes. Living life to its fullest.

What is the difference between Type 1 and Type 2?

Type 1 Diabetes:

In short, Type 1 Diabetes is an auto-immune disease. It occurs when the pancreas can no longer produce insulin. Insulin acts as a “key” to open your body’s cells to allow glucose to enter. When the pancreas is no longer able to produce insulin, the glucose you eat from foods and drinks can no longer be turned into energy the body can use. Over time, your body will start to give you “warning signals” that something is wrong.

Type 2 Diabetes:

With Type 2 Diabetes, your pancreas is able to produce some of it’s own insulin, however it may not be enough. Remember when I said that insulin acts as a “key” to open your body’s cells? Well, sometimes, if that “key” tries to open the body’s cells, but it doesn’t work, your body is unable to use the glucose you eat and drink, also leading to Type 2 Diabetes.

What causes Type 1 & Type 2 Diabetes?

The cause of Type 1 Diabetes is still unknown. Type 2 Diabetes is often times caused by living a sedentary lifestyle and being over-weight.

What are these “warning signals” you mentioned?

As stated on the Mayo Clinic website (www.mayoclinic.com) signs of Type 1 Diabetes include:

Increased thirst and frequent urination.
Extreme hunger.
Weight loss (often sudden)
Fatigue
Blurred Vision
If you, your child, or a loved one is experiencing these symptoms, consult with a doctor immediately.

What are some common misconceptions about Type 1 Diabetes?

Some common misconceptions about Type 1 Diabetes are:

Type 1 Diabetes is caused by eating too much sugar.
                 This statement is false. Type 1 Diabetes is NOT caused by eating too much sugar. It is caused by the person’s pancreas’ inability to produce insulin; an auto-immune disease. While it is advised to everyone to eat high sugar foods in moderation, it is not the cause of Type 1 Diabetes.

People with Type 1 Diabetes just have to watch what they eat, exercise, and take a pill every day.                     This statement is also false. People with Type 1 Diabetes are insulin dependant, meaning they must receive multiple insulin injections (often times receiving up to 5-6+ shots a day) or continuous insulin (via an insulin pump) to stay alive. They must also monitor their blood sugars closely, often times pricking their fingers up to 10+ times a day. Furthermore, people with Type 1 Diabetes can still eat anything they want, including things with sugar (I.e. cakes, pies, cookies, etc), they just need to give themselves enough insulin to cover the carbohydrates in those foods and monitor their blood sugars closely in case of a severe hypoglycemic or hyperglycemic episode occurs. For optimal health, it is advised to eat these things in moderation (but that should be done by everyone, not only people with diabetes), as well as exercise and monitor their blood sugars as recommended by their endocrinologist.

Is there a cure?

Unfortunately, there is no cure for Type 1 Diabetes. Many people believe, however, that people with Type 2 can cure their condition by losing weight and living a more active lifestyle.

What can I expect if my child is diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes?

When you take your child to the pediatrician for concerns of Type 1 Diabetes, they will run some tests. For my son, they checked his blood sugar right in the office, and asked for a urine sample. Normal blood sugar range is 70-120; this range is the same for both children and adults. If the pediatrician believes your child has Type 1 Diabetes, you and your child will be sent to the hospital to stay for a few days while the doctors and endocrinologists there work to bring your child’s blood sugars back in range. This stay could be as short as 3 days, but sometimes, depending on how severe the case is, may be longer. While in the hospital, you will learn all about Type 1 Diabetes, how to take care of your child when you both return home, how to administer insulin shots, learn about the glucogon emergency kit, and so much more. By the end of your visit, you may feel overwhelmed with information. Just take a deep breath and take it a day at a time. Remember, you are still learning all about it and no one expects you to get it down to a science by the time you leave the hospital!

How serious is diabetes?

Diabetes is very serious. Potentially life threatening in fact! If managed poorly, potential risks include:

Loss of limbs
Loss of sight
Nerve damage (neuropathy)
Unconsciousness
Seizures
Heart and blood vessel disease
Kidney damage (nephropathy)
Even death
If a hypoglycemic (low blood sugar) reaction is left untreated, the person with diabetes could have a diabetic seizure, go into a coma, or even die.
If a hyperglycemic (high blood sugar) reaction is left untreated, the person with diabetes could develop Ketoacidosis (DKA), go into a coma, or even die.
Diabetes is a potentially life threatening disease, and should be treated as such.

*Facts about Diabetes

~Almost 24 million Americans are living with diabetes.

~Diabetes affects approximately 180 million people worldwide. The World Health Organization estimates the number of people living with diabetes will more than double by the year 2030.

~Diabetes takes more lives than AIDS and breast cancer combined--claiming 1 American life every 3 minutes.

~It is the leading cause of blindness, kidney failure, amputations, heart failure and stroke.

~Diabetes is expensive! Americans spend approximately $218 billion on diabetic costs.

*These facts found on the Diabetes Research Institute website: www.diabetesresearch.org


A personal note:

As a mother of a young child with Type 1 Diabetes, I would like nothing more than to help rid the world of this disease. Diabetes affects the whole family. The child has to suffer with multiple injections daily, the feelings of high and low blood sugars as they happen, the emotional effects of having the disease and feeling “different” than their peers, learning how to take care of their diabetes by themselves, learning how to count carbohydrates, and so much more. The parents and other siblings are in a constant state of worry. We worry about how the child is doing when they are in school, at grandma’s, or at a friends. We worry overnight if the child’s blood sugars are high or low. Many parents, including myself, lose a lot of sleep or have broken sleep patterns because they are up checking the child’s blood sugars throughout the night, administering insulin for high blood sugars, and waking the child up to give them a fast acting carbohydrate (like juice or glucose tabs) for low blood sugars. When they have a low blood sugar, especially at night when symptoms of low blood sugars can be hard to catch, we worry about if we will catch a low blood sugar in time, or if our child will still be here with us the next day. Diabetes is very hard to manage. Although some parents, children, and adults, may make it look easy to do, it is not. However, each and every child and adult affected with the disease has learned how to manage it, and learned to live life to it’s absolute fullest, because you never know what tomorrow will bring.

Bio:

 
  I am a happily married mother with two wonderful children. Our son, Lenny, is 5 years old. Our daughter, Mackenzie, is 4 years old. Lenny was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at the young age of 3 ½ years old. It has been quite a roller coaster ride since his diagnosis, but the one thing I have learned since then is to live your life to the fullest and don’t take things for granted, because you never know what tomorrow will bring. Lenny, and all children with Type 1 Diabetes, are very brave children having to go through what they do each and every day. They are true Hero’s! Our family has decided to “Be the Hero” and become volunteer Diabetes Diplomats with the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation.

Will you help us in the fight against diabetes and find a cure?
Team Lenny’s Diabetes Diplomat Fundraiser Page: http://diabetesdiplomats.kintera.org/teamlenny
Follow our blog!: www.sugarfreecandyland.blogspot.com

I just got an interesting Diabetes Fundraiser idea

I just got this crazy idea LOL! How cool would it be to get a major sugar substitute manufacturer, like Splenda, involved in helping researchers find a cure for Diabetes?

Their involvement could be something as simple as what Box Tops for Education does.

The manufacturer could donate 10 cents per coupon clipped and mailed back to the manufacturer, and be donated to the Diabetes Research Institute to help researchers progress their efforts in finding a cure for diabetes!

I wonder what it would take to "open communications" such as this to a major manufacturer like that.

I wonder if it could be as simple as asking everyone to call or email Splenda with this suggestion, and see if the bombardment of the same suggestion could help make the manufacturer atleast consider an idea such as this? I wonder.

Have you ever got a crazy idea like this? If so, I'd love to hear them! Have you ever been able to put into action ideas such as this? Let's hear it!

This Week's Goals

Today I wanted to share some goals with you all.

This week, my "diabetes related" goal is to contact some local pharmacies and stores to see if they do any type of "Diabetes Awareness" fundraisers for Diabetes Awareness Month!

I plan to call places like Sheetz (for those of you who do not know what Sheetz is, its a gas station/convenient store, but a HUGE chain here in the northwestern part of the U.S.). Also, places like small mom & pop pharmacies, KOPP drugs, etc.

If they are not doing any type of fundraising for Diabetes Awareness Month, my goal is to discuss with them about the possibility of selling the DRI Snoopy papers to help  us raise money for a cure!

Diabetes Awareness is something very important to me, as many of you may already know. Finding a cure for this disease for, not only my son, but for the millions of other people living with Diabetes, is my lifelong dream. The day these children and adults can live their life, free of Diabetes, would be the greatest day of my life!

Since, I have nothing to sell to try to help raise money, and I'm not the "public speaker" type to go into the schools and talk about diabetes... I need to get a little more creative. While, yes, I know, this isn't exactly a "creative" way to raise money.... it is a proven way. And it will help, atleast a little, until I figure out something a little bigger and better to do in the local area!

Are you doing some kind of fundraiser to help raise awareness and funds for a cause?

If so... please share! We love hearing all of your feedback!

Have an idea? Share it!