Team Belmond

2013 TEAM BELMOND

Does this shirt make me look diabetic?

Hello, it's time for the annual Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's (JDRF): Walk for the Cure (early this year).  Again, we are uniting as Team Belmond.    Currently, our team captains are Lyla Heifner (Betsy), Nathan Azeltine, and Morgan Banta.  If anyone else from Belmond with type 1 (Juvenile) diabetes would like join and help lead our team, please let us know.  This year's walk will be held on February 16th at the downtown skywalks in Des Moines starting at 8:30 (each team is assigned a start time for that morning).  The money our JDRF team raises will go directly to support this life-changing research.   

With type 1 diabetes the pancreas does not produce insulin, and currently everyone with type 1 is insulin-dependent for life.  This diagnosis is not something that will be outgrown.  Managing blood sugars, counting carbs, adjusting insulin dosages, and giving insulin needed every time carbs are consumed is how this type of diabetes is treated to keep them alive!  Finding a cure is so important to help avoid kidney disease, blindness, amputation, and early death, which are all realities for so many with type 1 diabetes.  JDRF is the #1 non-profit funder of diabetes research worldwide and one of the largest fundraising events is the Walk to Cure Diabetes.

Lyla Heifner:

Second JDRF walk, diagnosed December 2011

Nathan Azeltine

Fifth JDRF walk, diagnosed on September 11, 2008

Morgan Banta

Second JDRF walk, diagnosed on September 8, 2010

Ode to Diabetes

Diabetes is like a disease.  The disease doesn't feel very good.  Sometimes it is very painul. 

I wished I didn't have diabetes~Nathan Azeltine 

The JDRF walk is a wonderful experience.  The amount of support that is given to those living with type 1, and the number of kids affected by this disease is unbelievable.  We are asking for your support, join our team.  If you are interested in helping us make a difference, log on to JDRF @ http://walk.jdrf.org/ and register, or just come that morning.  Help us collect donations, do a bake sale, any other fundraising ideas, or forward this letter to your family and friends.  The donation is a tax deductible contribution, and can be in any amount made payable to JDRF.  You can mail a check or log onto the JDRF site and donate to a walker or Team Belmond.  If you have any questions please call or email Jodi Azeltine 641-512-8415, jfazeltine@gmail.com; or call Betsy Heifner 515-571-2976.  A block of hotel rooms have are reserved at the Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites Northwest for February 15th and 16th for $99 per night plus tax.  The phone number is 515-278-4755.  This is state wrestling weekend and hotels are filling fast.  We had blocked 15 rooms for both night, this morning there were 5 rooms left for each night.  We will be ordering team t-shirts also.  Look for more information in the Belmond Reminder and on the JDRF team page. 

Sincerely,

The Azeltine, Banta, & Heifner families