Welcome to my personal JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes fundraising page!  I'll be taking part in this year?s Walk to raise funds to improve the lives of all people affected by type 1 diabetes (T1D).  If you ask people with T1D, they will tell you it is difficult and life threatening.  And they know it never goes away.

On April 21, 2012 my granddaughter, Makenzie Louise Oldt, celebrated her fourth birthday.  It also marked the third anniversary of the diagnosis, at the age of 11 months, that she had Type 1 Diabetes.

Type 1 Diabetes, also known as Juvenile Diabetes, usually develops in children, teens and young adults whose pancreas doesn?t produce an insulin hormone that changes glucose in the blood into energy.

Those who suffer from the disease must receive insulin shots or carry pumps that disburse insulin to the body, by way of a catheter.  This prevents high amounts of glucose from accumulating in the blood over a long period of time, which can be fatal.

Makenzie now has a pump which she refers to as her ?robot?.  She carries it in special pockets that have been sewn on the backs of her blouses and dresses.  The pump disburses a preset amount of insulin through a catheter and into a port in her hip.  It is with her constantly except when she is swimming or bathing (?that?s what four year olds do?they bathe!!!).  In addition, she is very good at reporting what she eats which helps her parents monitor the amount of insulin she needs.  She is also tested every 2 ? 3 hours by a finger or toe prick.

Get the picture?

But let?s not forget she is a four year old, blonde beauty, who loves to dance and sing and play and swim and make up stories and perform and just be a four year old princess!

So, bottom line, I have registered to walk for a cure for Juvenile Diabetes and I am asking for your support.  This is my third year walking for Team Makenzie and my goal is to raise $2,000.  Last year, with the support of family, friends and neighbors I surpassed my goal of $1,000, by $400.  I wish to do even better this year, and with your support it can happen.  Thank you.

Please help me reach my fundraising goal of $2,000.00 by visiting my personal fundraising page at JDRF and making an online donation.

 http://www2.jdrf.org/site/TR?px=1748589&pg=personal&fr_id=1890

Donating is quick, easy and secure;  however, if you would prefer, you can mail your contribution to the address listed below.  Make your gift payable to JDRF, and please put my name/ Team Makenzie in the memo field.
 

Don Oldt
2004 Cathedral Canyon Ct
Paso Robles, CA 93446-4852

Help me help these children?Thanks again.