By Victoria Stone-Meadows
A Berwick woman is again running an annual fund-raiser for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) with Coles stores in Casey and Cardinia for research into type one diabetes.
All funds raised from the $2 cards will help JDRF support research to cure, prevent and treat type one diabetes, or T1D. The cards will also raise overall awareness of the symptoms of the disease.
Deb Bayley first approached the Coles store at Eden Rise four years ago after her son Ryan was diagnosed with type one diabetes at just two years of age.
She was overwhelmed with the immediate support she received from Coles team members and the fund-raiser has grown every year since its inception.
“This campaign started in 2015 when I sent through a proposal to Coles head office and shared my thoughts and ideas, and it went from there,” Ms Bayley said.
“We had five stores last year, and this year we have 13; it’s definitely becoming an annual campaign.”
She said the campaign not only helped to raise money for research into the illness but raised awareness in the community and dispelled some of the myths surrounding type one diabetes.
“The campaign is reaching out to public because we are finding it raises a lot of awareness and helps with the community to bring up the question of what is T1D?”
“The cards and flyers are talking about T1D and making it clear if it is not caused by poor diet or lifestyle choices and it is an auto-immune illness that cannot be prevented.”
Until Sunday 12 March, shoppers at Coles at Casey Central, Springhill and Lynbrook can help Australians living with type 1 diabetes by buying a ‘Card for a Cure’ in-store to support the fund-raising effort.
The fund-raiser will also be run from Coles stores in Berwick including Eden Rise, Fountain Gate, Central (Southside) and Berwick North.
Coles stores in Pakenham including Village Lakeside, Main Street (Pakenham), Heritage Springs and Cardinia Lakes will also be involved in the fund-raiser.
