JDRF Walk for a Cure (And a little contest...)

I support many causes and many charities for many reasons, and I don't generally hit up social media sites for them...so bear with me just this once.

As you can see by the video above...there is one cause that hits very close to home. A cause that has been my constant companion for many years. From the time I get up until I go to sleep, even in the dark hours of the night (yes, even when I'm writing), I don't--I can't--forget.

On Dec 5, 2007 my youngest daughter Kate was rushed to hospital. Within an hour she was sitting in a hospital bed, diagnosed with Type 1 (Juvenile) Diabetes and receiving her first insulin shot. She was five years old. We were lucky--we caught the disease early and Kate recovered quickly on a daily regime of at least four needles a day. She now tests her blood via finger-prick blood test from 8-12 times a day. That's 15,000 finger-pricks in her little fingertips over five years. Tens of thousands of dollars spent on supplies. Thousands of needles. Hundreds of doctors visits.

Diabetes is not fun, but with constant vigilance it can be managed...and Kate lives a relatively normal life. If she wants to do it, we find a way. She looks so normal, sometimes it's easy to forget the dangers and the risks. Her insulin pump and test kit are ALWAYS with her. Insulin is not a cure, and without it she would get very sick. Without insulin she could go into a coma, maybe even die. Amazing how much you come to love and hate that little vial of clear fluid!

So that's my spiel. If you can, please give to whatever diabetes research foundation you wish. On June 9th, 2013 I will be walking with Kate and our team, Donate 4 Kate in the Telus Walk to Cure Diabetes in Ottawa, Ontario. JDRF is a world-wide organization that supports research towards a cure, and your donation could help us to throw that clear vial in the trash for good!

If you would like to donate to my Telus Walk to Cure Diabetes team, go HERE.

And now the CONTEST...

I will send a SIGNED paperback copy of my little self-published novel TREASURE IN THE FLAME to one lucky person!

To enter simply:
1) share this post on your twitter page, (follow me on twitter if you don't already...) and comment on this blog post below with the link so I can see it, AND
2) 'Like' my page on facebook- link HERE.

For an EXTRA entry, donate via the link above (any amount helps...even $5!) and let me know you've done so in the comments as well. I'll randomly select one lucky winner and contact you via  DM on your twitter. Contest closes on June 10th.

Easy? I think so!

THANK YOU! From me, from Kate, and from the millions of kids and adults who depend on that little clear vial every day.