Heather Latter
Words of praise rang out Saturday for the organizers of the inaugural “Dash 4 Diabetes” held on the Rainy Lake Nordic Ski Club’s trails at Rocky Inlet.
“Great event,” enthused participant Tammy Riordon on the event’s Facebook page. “Great organization and wonderful team of volunteers.
“Thank you for bringing awareness to diabetes and being active,” she added. “Good job to all.
“It was a beautiful day on the trails.”
“Thank you for putting on such an amazing event,” echoed Deirdre O’Sullivan Drombolis, another participant.
“I loved being a part of it!”
The event, organized by Fort High Grade 12 student McKenna Begin, in partnership with the Gizhewaadiziwin Health Access Centre, saw about 100 people attend to join in the 1K run and the 5K walk/run.
Lunch also was served while four local diabetic youths offered a presentation about their experiences with the disease.
With the Gizhewaadiziwin Health Access Centre covering any costs associated with Saturday’s event, all donations given are going to the “Community Chest,” to be used specifically for people afflicted with this disease.
More than $2,800 was raised.
“Thank you so much to everyone who came out,” enthused Begin, adding she still can’t wrap her head around how much money was raised.
Begin initiated the event to bring awareness to the disease that her younger brother, Matthew, 13, was diagnosed in August, 2014.
“I decided in the summertime that this was something I wanted to do,” Begin had noted, adding she was put in touch with Shauna-Leigh Carlson of the Gizhewaadiziwin Health Access Centre to get the ball rolling.
She said it was a big change for her family when her brother was diagnosed.
“It’s really impacted his life a lot,” Begin stressed. “It was an adjustment because he had to start taking his needles four times a day.
“And we had to watch the carbs that he was consuming.
“We had to make sure that he was testing and making sure he was getting the right insulin dosage,” Begin added, noting she had to help with that if her parents were away.
“So it was a big change,” she reiterated.
Begin said she knows other people in town have been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes who are around her brother’s age.
“It’s just really something I wanted to raise money for because I didn’t know much about the disease until he had gotten it,” she remarked.
Saturday’s event, held in conjunction with World Diabetes Day, also was meant to promote a healthy lifestyle.
“It went exactly how I had hoped,” Begin said.
But she clearly was overwhelmed by all the support.
“It was so much fun and it went so much better than I expected,” she admitted.
Carlson said the unique location—and mild weather—certainly aided in the event’s success.
“It’s a great location and you couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful day,” she enthused about the sunny day that reached a high of 11 C, which is well above the average for mid-November.
Carlson added a number of people said they had never been to the club’s trails before.
“It just gets people exposed to coming out here,” she reasoned.
“It gives people the opportunity to give it a try.”
The Rainy Lake Nordic Ski Club, meanwhile, said it was proud to provide the venue for the inaugural “Dash 4 Diabetes.”
“The event promoted fitness, diet, and education as part of a healthy lifestyle,” the club said in a release to the Times.
“It was the largest event ever held at the club.
“Thank you to all of you who buy memberships, donate funds, and volunteer your time to support the club,” the release added.
“Your contributions have made events like the ‘Dash 4 Diabetes’ possible.”
“It was an amazing event,” agreed Katie Cuthbertson of the Gizhewaadiziwin Health Access Centre.
“It was so great to see participants of all ages—from little kids to teenagers to seniors,” she noted.
As an education piece, Valley Diabetes was on hand to check blood sugar levels and blood pressure, in addition to the presentation by the local youths.
Mira Donaldson and Callahan Wiedenhoeft, both 14, along with Chy-Anne Hoven and Matthew Begin, both 13, shared their stories of living with diabetes.
Donaldson and Wiedenhoeft both were diagnosed in August, 2011 while Hoven was diagnosed three years ago and Begin last August.
They shared the symptoms they have when their blood sugar is low, such as being shaky, weak, seeing double, and headaches, and when it is high, such as being very cranky and tired.
They also talked about attending a diabetes camp in Manitoba called Camp Briardale.
“I think since I was diagnosed, I’ve become healthier,” noted Wiedenhoeft.
“It’s not always easy but I feel I’m a better person.”
“Diabetics need support,” stressed Donaldson. “People need to be educated about diabetes.
“Awareness needs to be raised so we can get rid of the stigma associated with it.”
Donaldson added that’s what the “Dash 4 Diabetes” did—and she hopes it continues until a cure is found.
“Thank you to all of the compassionate and amazing people who help kids like us live a happier, healthier, and more hopeful life with diabetes,” said Wiedenhoeft.
While McKenna Begin plans to be away at university next year, she also hopes “Dash 4 Diabetes” will continue.
She said her mom and other people already have said they would help to organize it again.
Carlson added the Gizhewaadiziwin Health Access Centre would be on board to do it again, too.
However, while Mother Nature did co-operate this year, Begin said there’s talk about holding it a little earlier next year.
“We might not be as lucky next year,” she admitted, though noting it was great to be able to mark World Diabetes Day with the inaugural event.
Begin thanked the Gizhewaadiziwin Health Access Centre for making the event possible, as well as Tim Hortons, M.E. Kennedy Dentistry Professional Corp., Pharmasave, Kris Krag, Jim Krag and the Rainy Lake Nordic Ski Club, the FFHS First Responders, and Valley Diabetes.
She also thanked the presenters, volunteers, and the participants.
“The support was amazing,” Begin enthused.
