Another fundraising event has been altered by COVID-19. This year’s JDRF gala, which raises funds for type one diabetes research will be hosted exclusively on tv.
JDRF originally stood for Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation with understanding that type one diabetes diagnoses occurs as frequently in adults the organization now simply goes by JDRF. Normally the organizations gala is hosted in Salt Lake City, but this Saturday the event auction will take place on KUTV from 6:00 to 7:00 pm. Christina Miller, a local attorney and volunteer with JDRF says this year’s event offers a new opportunity for outreach and education.
“Much more screen time with the people who are actually affected with type one diabetes,” Miller continued. “Interviews with kids and adults, you’ll get to not only hear their stories but see them. So, while we can’t all be together in the same room, I actually think that more people can participate in this type of format. Not just from a financial perspective but from a viewer perspective. Really get an understanding of what JDRF does.
JDRF seeks to cure, treat and prevent type 1 diabetes. Executive Director Mike Somers says the past five years have seen significant strides in the treatment and prevention of type 1 diabetes.
“Now there are insulin pumps and glucose monitors that can speak to each other,” Somers explained. “They can read and react to blood sugar. For people living with type one they are able to monitor their blood sugar every few minutes. They can see what their blood sugar numbers are and can make decisions based on trends and can try to get ahead of any highs and lows. Then the prevention side has been tremendous. We’re now able to predict when someone will eventually have type one diabetes. You can get ahead of it and seek out treatments. We’ve been able to get FDA approval on repurposement of medications in order to help stave off that initial diagnosis of insulin dependence.”
More information about JDRF and their gala can be found here.
