My daughter Jackie was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 1994 when she was just 5 years old. We didn’t know much about the disease at the time, and remember feeling so overwhelmed. As a family we soon got involved with our local JDRF chapter (JDRF’s Mid-Jersey Chapter), and immediately realized a feeling of hope.  Initially, we attended the walks as participants, and then formed our own walk team, The Carey Bears! We’ve met so, many wonderful families and individuals, all of whom were going thru the same highs and lows (literally) that we were going thru, so we no longer felt like we were going it alone.

As Jackie got older, our ability to continue a walk team diminished so I joined my first Gala committee in 2006. I found it to be an enjoyable and rewarding experience and it soon became an annual family event, especially when my husband Jim was the honoree at JDRF’s 2010 Mid-Jersey Gala.

Jim and I moved to the DC area a couple years ago and remained involved with JDRF in various ways through the Greater Chesapeake and Potomac Chapter. I am even more excited now to Chair the Auction Committee for the 2014 DC Hope Gala which will be held on November 1^st, at the National Building Museum, Washington, DC. Our committee is working hard to procure auction items that will help make the evening a great success.

I am so grateful to be involved with JDRF and its commitment to funding the research which will help us realize our goal. With their continued dedication, we will ultimately find a cure and turn type 1 into type none!