By Stephen Tipper Vulcan Advocate
Posted 16 hours ago
A couple whose five-year-old daughter has childhood diabetes is raising funds for the TELUS Walk to cure diabetes in Calgary next month.
Charli Helland, 5, was diagnosed with childhood diabetes when she was 18 months old.
Charli and her family are taking part in the TELUS Walk in Stanley Park on June 12, which will be the third time they’ve participated in the fundraiser.
About 30 people walked with the family last year, and mom Lori expects to see more people out there with them this year.
The family has raised $14,000 in the past two years, not including this year, said Lori.
“We’ve had lots of great support from the community,” she said.
People can buy $5 pledges at local businesses, including Esso, Shiroz Agencies, Market Street, Wolfe’s Home Hardware and Highway Liquor. Proceeds go to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
Market Street is holding a contribution barbecue on June 3, the day before the Tinman Triathlon, in support of the family. The event runs from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. at Market Street, with proceeds going to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Charli will at the barbecue, says Lori.
Lori and husband Jarrett hope for a cure for childhood diabetes, in which a child’s body does not make enough insulin to regulate blood sugar levels.
“It can strike children at any age,” said Lori.
Her parents take Charli, who doesn’t produce any insulin, to Calgary for a checkup every three months. Her blood sugar is checked three to five times a day.
Diabetes certainly complicates Charli’s life.
She can’t have birthday cake unless Lori knows exactly what’s in it, for example.
Her daughter can’t go on sleepovers, and Lori doubts whether she ever will.
“I can’t just drop her at her friend’s for a playmate,” she said.
She’s healthy because of the couple’s diligence, she says.
They had a bit of an adjustment to make recently as Charli went on a growth spurt, and she was playing outside more with the weather warming up, said Lori. Those kinds of things, and many others, affect blood sugar levels.
Charli is an active and busy girl who loves to dance, says her mom.
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