Thanks for visiting my fundraising page!

 

My name is Courtney and I am 16 years old.I am a sophomore at Pelham High School in Pelham, AL. I play flute in the PHS marching band: The Tower of Power. I live with my mom, step-dad, two sisters, my brother, two cats, two pit bulls and a wiener dog. 

I was diagnosed with Juvenile Onset Type 1 Diabetes when I was nine years-old. I had a difficult time in the beginning because I didn't want to have to do the things I needed to do to take care of myself. I went through a lot of denial and thought I could handle not taking care of myself. I went through a year of seven hospitalizations and five rounds of DKA (Diabetic Ketoacidosis). After going on an insulin pump, then being taken off for a year, I finally went back on the pump and have done well ever since. My health is better, now, because I take care of myself and I watch my blood sugar more closely than I did before. 

I first attended Camp Seale-Harris in 2006. I had such a great time and made friends I have kept in touch with ever since. I learn a lot at camp and the best part about being there is that every other person is diabetic. I don't have to explain to anyone what I am doing when I check my blood sugar or change the infusion set on my pump. Everyone already knows because they are doing it, too. For one week a year I am the normal one. It is the best week of my year and I start counting down the days until camp starts the next year as soon as camp is over! 

Every year I participate in a letter writing campaign to help me raise the money to go to camp. Southeastern Diabetes Education Services is the organization that provides camp for us. SDES needs $1,000 per person who attends camp. It's a lot of money but it costs a lot to take care of that many diabetic kids for a week. I have always been able to get the money I need because people are very generous and they like what Camp Seale-Harris has taught me about caring for my Diabetes. Every year I ask fifty people for $20 each to help me get to my goal of $1,000. A couple of years I actually went over my goal and that extra money went to a scholarship to help kids who didn't have enough money and couldn't raise enough money to pay for camp.

I made this page to get the money I need this year. I know I can count on your support! If you can spare $20, please click the button and know that you are helping me get to attend a camp that teaches more than just Diabetes management. Camp Seale-Harris teaches me to manage my life with Diabetes in a world without Diabetes. Thanks and love to you all!