Dear JDRF Friends and Family,
We are writing you all to ask you to join us in making a difference to JDRF, which is so near and dear to our hearts. On June 2nd, JDRF will hold Party with a Purpose at Angel's Envy Distillery in Louisville, Kentucky. We are honored to be involved as leaders of the event this year and sharing our story to inspire change.
JDRF has been a charity of choice for The Weisenbarger Family, when father of two and husband, Seth, was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) just after he turned 9 years old. With having T1D for over 30 years, Seth and his family have benefitted from the advancing treatments and research of managing his diabetes. As you may know, T1D is an autoimmune disease in which the pancreas stops producing insulin. There is no remission, no days off, and currently NO CURE. There is never a day when he isn't thinking about T1D, however, Seth has not allowed T1D to define him. He has been able to live a full life, going to college, starting his own family and joining the fight with JDRF for a better future for those living with this terrible disease.
What is amazing is how far our progress has come. In fiscal year 2021, JDRF drew $425.7 million in additional funding and investments for T1D therapy research and development from partners in the private and public sectors. There are more than 50 human clinical trials (up from about zero in 2000). And all of this has been enabled by volunteers and staff teams around the globe.
Largely because of JDRF, we are on the verge of realizing so many therapeutic options, including some that are especially exciting to us:
Encapsulation. This is the implantation of insulin-producing cells that are protectively encased order to protect them from the immune system. For T1D patients, it is their own immune systems that destroyed their ability to generate insulin in the first place.
Glucose responsive insulin. This is another amazing idea through which T1D patients could potentially use synthetic insulin that would be absorbed in the bloodstream as needed to control blood sugar levels.
Artificial Pancreas Systems. This is far along and is a self-regulating insulin pump that can make a material difference to T1D patients by dramatically improving their blood sugar controls.
In the 30+ years with T1D, Seth has seen amazing advancements and progress from sensors to insulin pumps and their communication to each other, adding feasibility to many lives. Today, these and other JDRF-sponsored therapeutics offer real promises for improving the lives of millions.
So why do we support JDRF, rather than donating to research teams directly? First, more than 80 percent of what JDRF spends goes directly to research and research-related education—among the highest percentages for charities nationwide. Secondly, by having strategic objectives and targeted funding, JDRF’s aim is to speed up the pace research. This encourages research collaboration and minimizes research overlap. JDRF acts as a catalyst to find the most promising, most innovative research projects around the world and invests in them.
There are three ways you can make an impact and support our efforts in this year’s Party with a Purpose:
- Take advantage of sponsorship opportunities.
- Buy a ticket and attend. Come and enjoy a fun-filled evening and support a great cause!
- Make a donation to help the evening’s Fund A Cure effort. If you could do this, your gift, like ours, could be matched by those in attendance that evening. Without any question, having a meaningful match for those in attendance will be important in making this event a success. Fund A Cure gifts are 100% tax deductible and directly impact the important mission of JDRF.
I hope that you will be able to support our cause, donate, and attend a one-of-a-kind evening.
Thank you so much and best regards,
Seth & Amy Weisenbarger
