With a hope for a Type 1 Diabetes (Juvenile Diabetes) cure in her lifetime, Cindy Jayne prepares to embark on a 50-mile bike ride to raise funds for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Ms. Jayne, whose 17-year-old son Brogan was diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes over four years ago, said she hopes that the bike ride will not only raise money but will also raise public awareness.

Ms. Jayne said Type 1 Diabetes is an autoimmune disease, meaning that because of a particular gene the body begins fighting against itself, eventually killing its insulin producer, the pancreas. Scientists don’t know what exactly triggers this disease, she said, but many people have the misconception that it is a result of a poor diet.

“It cannot be prevented,” she said, and most people are diagnosed prior to 18 years of age.

Brogan’s symptoms appeared when he was 12. After spending a weekend with a friend, the father of the friend told Ms. Jayne that Brogan seemed to have an unquenchable thirst. He noted that in a span of an hour and half Brogan had consumed two Gatorades but remained thirsty. Ms. Jayne said this was a result of his rising blood sugar.

She said Brogan also acted agitated and unlike himself. When she took him to the doctor, he was immediately diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes and placed in the hospital for three days. A normal blood sugar level is about 104, she said, but his was 500 when he was diagnosed.

While Brogan was in the hospital, he was taught how to maintain correct insulin levels in order to regulate his blood sugar. Ms. Jayne noted, “Insulin is not the cure but it keeps Type 1 people alive.”

Doctors told Ms. Jayne and her husband that often because of complications caused by the disease (heart attacks, strokes, blindness, etc.) typically a person’s life is shortened by 15 years. “As a family our hope is finding a cure in this lifetime,” she said.

“It’s a devastating disease,” she said. Each year 13,000 children will be diagnosed, she noted. Diabetic supplies are expensive and cost Americans billions of dollars each year.

Since the 1970s when the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) was started by parents, the foundation has raised over $9 million to fund research. She noted that 80 percent of the proceeds go towards research.

“I just kept feeling that, as a mom, I needed to do something,” said Ms. Jayne, so when she heard about JDRF’s fundraising bike ride she felt this was something she could do.

The 50-mile ride will take place on Sept. 9 in Asheville, N.C. The foundation asks that each participant raise $3,500. Ms. Jayne began raising support last spring.

As a teacher at Fairyland School, Ms. Jayne has gained support from the students, parents and faculty. The fifth and sixth graders have their own newspaper and last spring sold it to raise over $300 for the cause. She said instead of end of the year gifts, many parents gave her donations.

With collaborative efforts between her and the administration, two small fundraisers for the first weeks of school have been planned. “Caps for Cure” will give students the opportunity to wear a hat at school all day if they donate $1. Additionally, a jar labeled “Quarters for Cure” will also be displayed.

Ms. Jayne said, “I’m so determined to do this ride. Since he has been diagnosed, I have never heard him complain, not one time.”

She admires her son’s perseverance and good attitude. “If I had to deal with what he has to deal with, I wouldn’t be so easy to live with.”

“He doesn’t have limitations,” said Ms. Jayne. “It’s all about the attitude.” Shortly before Brogan was diagnosed, he eagerly awaited McCallie baseball tryouts. However, when he was first put in the hospital Ms. Jayne said it seemed that he was not going to be able to try out. But the baseball coach let him try out later. Now going into his senior year, Brogan is a top pitcher for McCallie’s team and hopes to pitch in college.

She noted that Brogan has to check his blood sugar eight to 10 times per day, and three to four times when he’s pitching a game. She estimated that since his diagnosis he has given himself 6,500 shots.

People in the community who don’t already know that Brogan has been diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes, would never guess that he has it, she said. Brogan is tall, strong and healthy. When they find out that he has the disease, they are amazed. “He is mature and accepts what has happened,” she said.

“I get frustrated hearing people complain about teenagers when they are doing positive things every day,” said Ms. Jayne.

Brogan’s close friend, Jordan Thomas, lost his feet in a boating accident about a year ago, and shortly afterward started a foundation to raise money for children who cannot afford prosthetics. “Many teenagers can be learned from. It’s all about the attitude that helps keep people going,” Ms. Jayne said.

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