MAHWAH – Mark Shrekgast said the greatest reward his family could ever receive would be a cure for juvenile diabetes.
But, for now the Shrekgast family of five will have to settle for their recent induction into the first Hall of Fame of the Northern New Jersey and Rockland County Junior Diabetes Research Foundation for raising $175,000 for the foundation.
“Whatever we can do to find a cure for the disease is the best thing ever,” Mark said in an interview at his home. “I’m looking for one thing, and that’s a cure.”
The Shrekgast’s — parents Mark and Jacqueline and daughters Danielle, Emily and Julianna – have participated in the foundation’s annual walks as a team dubbed Emily’s Electric Lasers since 2006, a year after Emily was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes.
Emily was 8-years-old at the time of her diagnosis.
“We were devastated,” said Jacqueline Shrekgast while sitting in her home beside her husband. “She was young – she really didn’t get it at first.”
Back in the early 2000’s, while living in North Carolina, Jacqueline said they participated in a JDRF walk in support of friends whose twin children had juvenile diabetes.
“We did the walk down there, not knowing we’d be doing this for our own daughter,” she said.
Juvenile diabetes, known as Type 1, occurs when the pancreas fails to produce insulin, a hormone that moves glucose into cells, where it is used for energy. Without insulin, glucose remains in the blood stream where it can cause damage to the organs in the body, requiring those diagnosed with the disease to take daily shots of insulin.
At the time of Emily’s diagnosis she was exhibiting the classic symptoms, which included sluggishness and extreme thirst, Jacqueline said.
Now, Emily’s regimen consists of testing her blood up to ten times a day and taking shots of insulin when she eats.
Jacqueline said her daughter has her ups and downs, but through it all Emily has remained strong, resilient and has received top recognition in gymnastics.
Positive thinking is what keeps the 14-year-old going.
“My goal is to be an excellent gymnast,” Emily wrote in an e-mail. “I tell myself that I have the ability to achieve this goal and my diabetes will not get in the way. This is what motivates me.”
Emily added that she was happy to discover that her family had been inducted in the foundation’s hall of fame, saying the foundation works hard at raising money to find a cure.
Doug Rouse, the executive director of the JDRF’s northern New Jersey chapter, said the hall of fame was created to recognize families and businesses that have raised $150,000 or more.
The Shrekgast’s were inducted along with five other families.
“I thought it was a nice way to recognize those teams that have shown true leadership in our mission,” Rouse said. “It really brings together families in the community, so kids don’t feel like they are by themselves. When they come to a walk, and when they see four or five thousand families, it makes them feel better.”
“It’s really an important event,” he added.
The foundation’s annual walk event in Bergen County has attracted about 4,500 participants.
