“Kyle is special because he has way more courage and bravery than most kids,” his sister, LHHS sophomore Courtney, told me in a little don’t-mess-with-my-brother swagger. “What other kids do doesn’t even compare to what my brother goes through every day.”
Family, friends and the LH community are invited to join, and all walkers will be given a Kyle’s Club shirt for their efforts. Mom, Laura, says you don’t have to donate to participate, but she’s hoping to surpass the $15,000 they donated last year to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation in Kyle’s honor.
“We walk for three reasons,” said Laura, “to raise awareness, to raise money to help support the research needed to find a cure, and to let Kyle know he is not alone in his fight against this disease. We choose the JDRF over other charitable organizations because the JDRF is the world’s leading charitable funder and advocate of Type 1 Diabetes research, and their exclusive focus is finding a cure for Type 1 Diabetes and its complications. Every hour of every day, someone is diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, the most severe form of a disease that annually accounts for more than $150 billion in health care costs in the US alone.”
“I admire how strong he is and how he never complains,” added sister Caroline, a senior Wildcat Wrangler. “I think he feels loved by the rest of his family and friends and especially at the walk he gets to see how many people are supporting him.”
“Kyle loves the walks,” agreed Laura. “He looks forward to this day every year. I think he would tell you it’s the one day he might like having diabetes just a little bit! What kid wouldn’t love having hundreds of people walking around wearing a shirt with their name on it?”
Also walking will be Kyle’s little brother, Luke. About the time Kyle was being diagnosed, Luke’s adoption from Russia was being finalized. As the family was learning to balance carbs and proteins for their new diabetic, they were managing a completely different diet for an underfed orphan. To look at them today, you’d never guess they weren’t brothers from birth.
“We have been amazed…overwhelmed…at the support we have felt over the years from our St. John’s family, Highlander family, LH family and obviously our immediate family who have supported JDRF and Kyle’s Club.”
If you’d like to walk, donate and/or give encouraging words to the family, you can email Laura here. And have your t-shirt size ready.
