It’s that time of year again. We’re less than two weeks ago from the JDRF Delaware Hope Ball (eek!). Usually this time of year I write a long letter about the incredible people I’ve met through JDRF, to share their stories and raise awareness and much needed funding for type 1 diabetes research (T1D). Few have ever accused me of being short-winded.

This year Kasey volunteered to help me write the letter…

If you’re reading this, you probably know that Maura has been working with JDRF for the better part of her adult life now. For the last few years, I’ve been along for that ride with her at the JDRF Walks, galas, educational and sporting events, and just about any other place you can imagine promoting the work JDRF is doing.

During that time, I’ve witnessed thousands of people come out to support loved ones and donate to contribute JDRF’s mission. I’m always incredibly impressed to see how a group of people will rally around a child, relative, friend, or coworker to raise money for JDRF, knowing that somewhere down the line it will make a difference for that person’s life. Maura and I certainly consider ourselves lucky to have a group of friends and family that step up to do just that year after year. This year, I just wanted to explain why this support matters to us so much by adding a little bit of context.

100% of the funds JDRF raises through Fund A Cure goes directly to fund research, including all of the money donated through this Join Me campaign. Over the past 40 years, that research has been involved in developing, testing, and bringing to market some of the most critical technologies and treatments available for people with T1D.

For example, two years ago Maura started using an insulin pump, a technology JDRF research has helped advance and improve in a number of ways, and she’s achieved almost 15% better blood sugar control as a result. This year, Maura started using a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) system, another technology JDRF has been involved in testing, and this is already compounding the improvements made possible by the insulin pump.

What this means is that on a day-to-day level Maura’s blood sugar is that much closer to normal, with fewer dangerous lows or highs and more consistently safe levels. Over the long term, these types of improvements are what enable people with T1D to live longer more normal lives. This is why since the founding of JDRF the life expectancy for a person with T1D has increased almost 20 years, that much closer to the level of a non-diabetic.

Today, after years of research, JDRF is funding the final stages of human-clinical trials for the Artificial Pancreas, which allows the insulin pump and the CGM to work together in a more precise and almost completely autonomous way. This will mean more intelligent blood sugar tracking, carb counting, and dosing. Most importantly the more consistent control this will make possible will have major benefits for long-term health.

Beyond that, JDRF is working on potential therapies that could restore or replace the function of the pancreas and ultimately make it unnecessary to carry these external devices at all.

This is what I think about when I go to a JDRF event, when I see people donate to these campaigns, and when we do personally. Maura’s life is actually better today, right now, because of what JDRF research has achieved. Her health is improving as a result of the new technologies that JDRF’s work is contributing to, and in the future she’ll get even closer to a completely normal, healthy life because of JDRF’s work.

That means a lot to us. It means too that all the families we’ve met through JDRF, their children with T1D, and their loved ones present and future will get to see the benefits we’re seeing today and probably a lot more.

JDRF and the research may seem abstract or distant at times, especially for those of you with no direct ties to the disease, so I just wanted to assure you that it is not distant at all for us. It’s making a difference for us on a day-to-day level, and, for that reason, so is your support of us and of JDRF.

It’s not only generous; it’s helping to change people’s lives. So please know how incredibly grateful we are for that support.

With sincere gratitude,

Kasey & Maura