Of course all money would go to the ADA, but the war between the teams was on.
“People kept sabotaging other teams, putting in quarters,” Belluomini said.
The seven students also created posters to hang around the school; they made tie-dyed t-shirts and gave facts about diabetes during daily announcements for a week — all to bring about awareness of the disease.
In the end, the group collected $1,275 dollars, which will be donated to the ADA for research. The students had the choice of donating the proceeds to help fund diabetes camp or research; they chose the latter.
“It gives us a hope we can find a cure someday,” said Lauren Gallacher.
They all appear to have accepted diabetes as part of their lives, but it can be tough to deal with their peers and sometimes their own family members.
There are times when they are teased about having diabetes or have it held against them, said one student.
“If your blood sugar is high and you can’t eat, they will tease you about it with food,” said Kaylee Kopriva.
What really annoys most of the students is when people treat them like babies, they all agreed.
Whatever they are eating, someone inevitably asks if they should be having that.
“I know what I can eat and what I can’t eat,” said Moody. “I tell my friends and they still ask.”
Some of the students aren’t sure if their peers have a better understanding of diabetes or not since the campaign.
“A lot of people stopped in the halls to look at posters, so I know they are getting something from it,” Belluomini said. “I know some people cared.”
Whether or not their peers do understand them better, this group of kids made a difference for themselves and others living with diabetes.
“I am really proud of what we did,” Belluomini said, “and all the money that went for research.”
