Walk For a Cure For Sydney--Please take a minute to read

Dear Friends and Family,

We are writing to you on behalf of our 4-year-old daughter Sydney. On February 25, 2008, Sydney was diagnosed with Type 1 juvenile diabetes—which means she will be insulin-dependent for the rest of her life. She is required to constantly check her blood sugar by pricking her tiny fingers 4-6 times a day. She receives 4 shots of insulin per day, in addition, a tightly controlled diet and scheduled food intake are now part of Sydney’s everyday life. But, as you likely know, insulin is not a cure; it is merely life support.

The most heart-wrenching and cruel thing about this disease is that even if we tightly control Sydney’s diet and sugar levels, over time, she still has a higher likelihood to have heart disease, kidney disease, an amputation, blindness and/or an early death. (Just to name a few)

From the moment our children are born we, as parents, try to protect them from any harm. That is why we are asking for your help today. We must do everything we can to help find a cure for this disease. Researchers are getting closer than ever before. We are hoping a cure will be found soon, but research cannot be done without funding.

We told Sydney about the Walk to Cure Diabetes and she asked if she raised enough money if she wouldn’t have diabetes anymore. We explained that the money will go to research to help find a cure and someday, hopefully, she won’t have diabetes anymore. She is the one who pushed us to start Team Sydney. Please don’t let her down. Just to give some insight into Sydney’s generous heart, last year she willingly did extra chores for money and donated half of her allowance saved to the Idaho Food Bank to help needy kids. She has a big heart and loves to help people.

Sydney has helped us realize that we can do more than just “hope” for a cure. On Saturday, September 13, Team Sydney will participate in the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation’s (JDRF) Walk to Cure Diabetes. JDRF is the largest worldwide organization dedicated to finding a cure for diabetes. In a typical year, 85% of every dollar spent goes to research and education about research—since 1970 JDRF has provided more than $900 million to diabetes research worldwide.

Now there are two ways you can help us make a difference for Sydney and everyone living with diabetes:

1) You can join our family team, now known as “Team Sydney”, which consists of family and friends who also collect pledges and walk with us. The Walk will be held Saturday, September 13 at the Snake River Landing in Idaho Falls. Time is really getting short!

2) You can also send a tax-deductible contribution of any amount, made payable to JDRF or the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Please indicate on the check that your donation is for Team Sydney. Or you can make a credit/debit card contribution by visiting

http://walk.jdrf.org/ Please search for Sydney’s team, Team Sydney in Idaho, and contribute to her walk so she receives the credit.

Our goal is to raise $500 for diabetes research. Any contribution, no matter how small, will make a difference. Again, we want to express our most heartfelt gratitude for your support of Sydney and this most worthy cause. Together, we can find a cure. If you have any questions, please contact us.

Sincerely,

Loren, Shamae, Sydney and Morgan

s_gneiting@hotmail.com