Please help support a great cause!

I received an email (well, it wasn't just to me, there were many others as you can imagine) from a high school classmate today. We are a little more in touch with FaceBook, yet I was still surprised to hear about her daughter. I could try and recap it, but with her permission, I am just posting her email . . . (Laurie and I were supposed to be roommates at WSU until she found out she was expecting Katelyn our senior year)

Jesse and I are writing on behalf of our daughter, Katelyn.

As you may know, Katelyn was diagnosed with Type 1 (juvenile) diabetes on June 8, 2008. She will be insulin-dependent for the rest of her life.

Kate has endured over 1,460 fingerpricks and 1,095 insulin injections this year. In addition to her rigorous blood testing and insulin shots, everything she consumes must be measured and her blood levels even need to be checked while she sleeps and plays sports. Katelyn is always a trooper and rarely complains. As you’ve seen, she is full of smiles and laughs amidst her daily diabetes routine. She continually amazes us and is a blessing to have in our lives as a daily reminder of spirit, humility, and a positive attitude.

Type 1 diabetes is a devastating disease that affects millions of people. Many people think Type 1 diabetes can be controlled by insulin. While insulin does keep people with Type 1 diabetes alive, it is NOT a cure. Aside from the daily challenges of living with Type 1 diabetes, there are many severe, often fatal, complications caused by the disease. It’s our mission to avoid the heart and kidney disease, blindness, amputation, and early death that is a reality for many people with juvenile diabetes. The good news, though, is that a cure for Type 1 diabetes is within reach. We feel confident a cure will be available in Kate's lifetime. In fact, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) funding and leadership is associated with most major scientific breakthroughs in Type 1 diabetes research to date. And JDRF funds a major portion of all Type 1 diabetes research worldwide, more than any other charity.

Please understand, we are not trying to have a pity session. We truly believe that out of every difficulty comes something good. As parents, it’s our instinct from the moment our kids are born to protect them from any harm. We must do everything in our power to help find a cure for her.
Katelyn is now 15 1/2 years old and is excited about getting her driver's license in August. She is earning a 3.9 GPA in 9th grade at Stewartville High School with classes including Advanced Math and Honors English, playing volleyball and basketball regularly and is a captain of both teams, and living a normal teenage life. She is truly our inspiration. Katelyn recently told her doctor that "it's easy". If you know Kate at all, you know this disease has not gotten her down!

WE INVITE YOU TO HELP FIND A CURE FOR THIS DISEASE!
We are very excited to share with you that our family will be participating in the JDRF's "Roll and Stroll" on Sunday, May 17, 2009, at Soldiers Memorial Field in Rochester. If you would like to make a donation or would like to take the 3-mile walk with us, please see the information below.

*** To register to walk with our team, find out how close we are to reaching our family goal, or would like to make an on-line donation, we are registered as "TEAM HANFSTER" at this Web link: http://walk.jdrf.org/walker.cfm?id=87334739

*** Otherwise, you can make checks payable to "JDRF - Roll & Stroll" and send them to our mailing address below. We will deliver any donation in Katelyn's honor the morning of the Walk.

Thank you for helping our family team meet our goal of raising $500 this year. Thank you for your support and we would be honored to see you at the Walk on May 17th!

Laurie & Jesse Hanf
31578 - 121st Avenue
Stewartville, MN 55976
507-259-7371 cell
507-378-2755 home

PS -- please feel free to forward this information on to anyone that might be interested.

This brings tears to my eyes because I remember Katelyn as a baby and even then, she was so very full of smiles :~) Please keep her and others with Type I diabetes in your prayers! Thank you!