Athlete T1D Panel 2016: When an idea became a reality

Sometimes the best ideas come to us when we are dashing from one place to the next. Recently, Hot Hubs was driving me to the airport when he had this crazy idea he shared with me. It went something like this:

“Hey, Mere, I have this crazy idea…..what if we pulled together some type one diabetic athletes who have overcome many odds, and had a coffee chat of sorts?” 

After a few moments of chatting back and forth about how we would put something like this together, and where we would host this and so forth, it came to me! A few phone calls later, and some brain storming, the first ever T1D Panel was formed!

What is a T1D panel you ask? What if you could reach many to encourage and inspire? What if you had a panel of four incredible athletes of different ages, a leading endocrinologist, and a leading scientist all together on one platform, to impart wisdom, knowledge and share in how the diabetic athletes  have overcome many obstacles to reach their dreams? What if it was set up so that it was moderated by a local television news reporter? Put all of those things together in a room on a stage, and you get the T1D Panel.

The athletes sitting on the panel all have incredible stories and testimonies on how they have overcome many obstacles to reach their dreams and goals all the while balancing type one diabetes. I refer to our life like this:

“We are living on a balance beam. Luke is always on that balance beam, balancing his diabetes, trying to keep from going too far to the right and too far to the left.  The goal is to stay in the middle.” 

For most everyone, making the choice to get out of bed in the morning, dress yourself for a morning run, and head out the door, it’s really that simple. But for a diabetic athlete, it’s not that simple. Everything a diabetic athlete does rises and falls on where their blood sugar levels are at that time. Planning for a race, a competition, a game, really anything, it has to be well thought out. Depending on where ones sugar levels are, that has to be tweaked. There is so much to do in preparing for athletic activities like this, and the four panelists that have been chosen to speak, all have overcome many hurdles in their quest for the finish line!

Wether you’re a runner, triathlete, mountain climber, basketball player, football player, dancer, snow boarder, etc. and you’re living with diabetes, I want you to know that you can do ALL things, whatever it is! I cannot tell you how many stories we have heard over the last 18 months where other T1D families have asked

“How does Luke do what he does?”  or “Wow, I wish my child could do things like they used to before their diagnosis.” 

The T1D Panel was formed to inspire, encourage and impart a wealth of knowledge about how these athletes have overcome their challenges. The most exciting part about the panel is the wide range of athletes and their ages. Paul Finelli, with Florida Hospital, along with the American Diabetes Association Central Florida, have done an outstanding job of putting our idea into reality. We are hoping the event will be available for live streaming, and we are also hoping it will be recorded so we can share it later.

Here’s the exciting part. The T1D Panel Team:

Chris Clark, UltraMan Triathlete

Lauren Adams, Boston Marathoner

Luke Rosser, USA Triathlon Age Group National Champion

Ralph Hopkins, Athlete & US Attorney General

Will Cross, Mountain Climber

Moderator: Sonni Abatta 

As soon as I get a link for live streaming, I will share it here! The panel is set to take place on Sunday, October 23rd @ 4:00 pm.

“Be active and make healthy choices. Never stop giving up on your dreams and keep reaching for the stars.”  – Luke Rosser

T1D Age Group National Champion

It all started with a dream, and those fateful words on July 31, 2015. Luke told his triathlon coach, the day after the USA Triathlon Nationals.

“Coach, I want to come back and race next year and I want to be the age group National Champion!” 

Fast forward one year later to the day,  July 31, 2016. Luke Rosser raced the race of his life, to clench the USA Triathlon 14-year-old Age Group National Championship title!

I was recently asked to share Luke’s story by Diabetes Mine. Today they published his story, and instead of me re-capping it here I am going to share the story below. Just click on the link below to read  how Luke is beating the odds!

Read here: Luke’s Olympic Hopes

More Than Just A Brand

When you think of a “brand” what comes to mind? I automatically think of Ralph Lauren, Lacoste, Kraft, Organic Girl, Green Wise, just to name a few. What those brands represent may or may not have much meaning. Clearly Green Wise, by Publix 99% of the time, means that the product labeled with that name is USDA Organic. That has great meaning if you’re looking to buy food that is grown naturally with no chemicals, pesticides, and so forth.

Lr. More than just any ordinary brand.

 

 It has significant meaning. Deep rooted meaning all the way down to the color scheme. Lr is strong, resilient, brave, fighter, over comer, hope, active, winner, confident, capable, successful, and creative just to name a few.  Lr represents Luke Rosser, Type One Diabetic Athlete & Advocate who is on a mission to spread awareness about diabetes and making good choices.  Ironically Lr is an element on the periodic table too. Who knew?

 From the moment doctors told Luke that exercise saved his life, upon being diagnosed at age 12 with type one diabetes, he has made it his mission to make a difference in his community. This mission has been to build a better community for young teens and kids alike. Just last month Luke was given the opportunity to speak at the Town of Oakland’s Commission Meeting. He requested to build a small mountain bike park for kids and teens so they can be creative and more active. That meeting was very successful and the planning stages are in the works now for the new place in the local park!

Next on Luke’s agenda is to get kids excited about living an active lifestyle from making good choices. His message is to encourage  kids  to put down the video games, turn off the television, and spend time outside being active. Luke wants to reach as many kids as possible, so to start that endeavor he has been speaking at several schools in recent weeks. He’s spoken to a group of home schoolers at their Co-Op, and spoke to 80 plus 4th graders at a local elementary school in our community as well as over 120 students in an elementary school in Lake County.

Luke’s message is clear. Be the active. Be the voice. Be the change. He has proposed a challenge.

Will you take the “Lr Challenge?”

It’s quite simple.

 Make exercise a priority in your life. Make the better choice to live a healthy lifestyle. Spend at least 30 minutes everyday doing something that is a physical activity. This means take a walk with the family, play soccer in the backyard with the kids, go for a bike ride, jump rope, hula hoop, play basketball, swim, aqua jog, run, play tennis, the ideas are endless! Making choices to a better lifestyle are often not easy, but can be done if you make it fun. Get your family, friends, kids and neighbors involved. Set out to make better healthier choices. Choose water for hydration, limit your intake of surgery drinks. Eat more fruits and vegetables and less fast food.

Take a stand. Be the voice in your community. Be the change. It all starts with you! Take the Lr Challenge, and help Luke spread awareness about diabetes.

Lr.

It’s more than just a symbol or a brand. It’s a movement.

Lr is a challenge!

Take the challenge today and share with Luke on his Facebook page!

Many thanks to Mike Mitchell with Overhead Films for creating the incredible Lr logo.

The Choice

Let me introduce you to our friend and neighbor, 11-year-old Ricky. He hangs out with my two boys, Luke and Jack, just about every day.  You never know who you might be inspiring when you’re at work or play. Today, was no exception.

Ricky and his dad came over to the house, and wanted to know the difference between a mountain bike bought from a large retail store, and one that is purchased from a local bike shop, with a higher price tag. So after a few minutes of explanations, they decided to take Jack with them to visit our favorite local bike shop, Clermont Bicycles. They later returned and said they wanted to talk things over before making a decision.  After all a large purchase like that should not be done on a whim.

A few hours later, Ricky, along with his dad, came by the house to thank us for the bike shop referral. His dad told us that Ricky had been saving his own money for a long time to buy a new video game system. Recently, he had inquired about using his money to buy a mountain bike so he can ride with the boys. His dad told him he needed to make a choice. He could either buy a new bike or buy the video game system, which he had been wanting for a long time. In the end, Ricky bought a bike!

This touched my heart on so many levels. Since Luke’s Type 1 Diabetes diagnosis, he has made it a mission to bring awareness to our community regarding overall health and wellness. Because exercise saved his life, he wants other kids and adults, to make exercise a priority in their life. Making healthy choices and getting 30 minutes of exercise daily is vital to our well-being.

The fact that Ricky had been saving up his own money to buy a video game system and opted to buy a bike, speaks volumes. He clearly gets it. He said he wanted to be outside more and play with his friends, instead of inside all the time. Oh and we LOVE his color choice, blue! November is National Diabetes Awareness Month, and it’s Blue November for Type 1 Diabetes. How fitting!

So what would your choice be?

Be inspiring. Be the voice.

Be the change!

Giveaway

Guess what………

Here’s how this works. I love social media, and I love to promote others and their businesses when I can. As you all know, my 13-year-old son is a Type 1 Diabetic. Overhead Films is going to be documenting Luke’s story through videography in hopes to spread awareness about diabetes. November is Diabetes Awareness Month, and we would like to ask you to jump on over to Hot Chic Sports on Facebook and “Like” the post regarding their November Giveaway. Share the post on social media, and you will automatically get entered into a drawing for a FREE skirt!

The game that Hot Chic Sports is hosting will take place on November 14th, in Orlando Florida, so the drawing will take place after the event.

Ready……..

Set…..

GO!

Like & Share!

The Face of Juvenile Type 1 Diabetes

This is the face of Juvenile Type 1 Diabetes.

It is strong. It is resilient. It is determined. It is over coming boundaries. It is succeeding where it doesn’t seem possible. It is living and thriving!

Juvenile Type 1 Diabetes does not define this kid nor does it control what he does.

HE is in control and is determined to share his story with others in hopes to bring change to how they view living a healthy lifestyle.

November is Diabetes Awareness Month. We are getting ready to launch Luke’s story and bring change to legislation! This takes a group effort. This picture speaks a thousand words, but it also shows how a group effort can bring change to many lives. Chris Clark is the face of Juvenile Type 1 Diabetes. Chris was the first Type 1 Diabetic to complete an Ultraman Triathlon.

Thank you Chris Clark for starting a fire within us all. Together we,

Will. Be. The. Change!

November, Diabetes Awareness Month.

Be healthy. Be strong. Be resilient. Be determined. Be an over comer. Be the voice.

Be the change.

Just JUMP!

Just JUMP!!!!!

Isn’t this what we’re supposed to do when we get “the call?”

By “the call” I’m meaning step up, take the bull by the reigns. When someone is in need, you drop everything and run to their aid.

Do you jump or are you afraid of the leap? Do you feel safer in your small glass cup versus the much larger glass bowl?

Life in these times (as I call it) are busy. We are busy people. If we’re not busy enough by our own standards, we find things to make us busier! Cue the phone ringing and it’s your dear friend “Grace” who is calling for the tenth time in two hours because she has a need.Do you have enough Grace & Mercy for her or do you ignore the call and let it go to voicemail because your “too busy” at this moment?

*sigh*

I admit I  have those days where I feel I need to put my phone on mute, and just let the caller go to my voicemail, but something stirs in me and alas I answer the call.

After all what if it’s Publisher’s Clearing House calling to say I won a million dollars!

Ha, I’m not THAT lucky!

But more often than not, “that call” does come whether it’s from a family member or a friend, and they need help. Help in the form of encouragement and sometimes physical needs.

You know the saying “Pay It Forward”……

You  never know when your time of need may come into play. Are you going to be the one who drops it all to help another in need? Even if it’s for a long length of time?

What if  YOUR phone call to that one friend is a desperate one, and yet your friend never answers the phone but you get the message to leave a voicemail. Are you too busy to be bothered? My boys are constantly rolling their eyes at me, as they truly believe I have my cell phone growing out of my ear. They may be on the right track, but I find it hard to NOT answer my phone.

WHAT IF……

What if it IS THAT one phone call, and I need to drop everything and run to someones aid? I try to live my life by this simply note:

I recently got “that call” and it came at 6:30 AM. You know when your phone is ringing that early in the morning,  something isn’t right. Your first reaction is usually shock, disbelief, then comes the heart breaking pain. It’s what you do next that can shape the entire tragedy into something beautiful. The glass is not half empty, but half full.

The old saying “It’s better to give than it is to receive” is so true. It IS better to be on the giving end than receiving end isn’t it? Sure I love presents, but to be the one giving the gift with the pure satisfaction of blessing the other individual is nothing short of amazing! One doesn’t need to get any credit for this, as it’s what lies in your heart that is your reward. The feeling you get when you’ve made a difference, or left a fingerprint in someone else’s life, THAT is your reward.

Chew on this….