PUTNAM COUNTY — This Friday, those fighting to find a cure for diabetes will meet from 5-7 p.m. at the Darwin Place Mall on the WestSide to kick-off the year’s fundraising efforts for The American Diabetes Association.
Lily Z Chaffin was diagnosed with diabetes at the age of 4, just about as long as she’s been friends with Eli Anderson. Last year the pair raised $9,000 for Team Lily Z. Since they met, they’ve raised just about $30,000 for the cause.
“We do just about everything we can think of,” said Eli’s mother, Beth.
They have sold tomatoes, swam laps, sold school supplies and asked for donations in front of Walmart. Eli has shaved his head, and Lily has sold lemonade and baked goods from a lemonade stand her grandfather built for her.
“Every birthday, instead of asking for presents, I ask for money for diabetes,” said Eli.
In addition to raising funds for diabetes research, the pair has also gotten the chance of a lifetime for many young music-lovers — the chance to meet the Jonas Brothers in person. As part of a fundraiser, they received one ticket in a drawing for every $200 raised. Eli raised $5,000 himself that year and was entered 25 times.
“And, of course, Eli’s not a huge Jonas Brothers fan, but he wanted to win it so bad so he could take Lily,” said Beth.
The pair won and got tickets to the band’s concert, as well as VIP passes for a visit backstage before the show, where Lily got her diabetes kit autographed.
This year Lily and Eli are working hard to raise more funds to one day put an end to diabetes forever.
“I can’t take the (needle) sticks for her,” said Eli. “I can’t go to the nurse for her. I can’t let my legs be shaky when she has a low blood level. I can’t throw up or have a headache for her because of a high. I can’t get up at a fun activity to check my blood. I can’t carry a kit wherever I go. I can’t have a pump catheter inside of my legs or tummy every three days, and I can’t cure her and I hate that! But I can understand the disease, let her squeeze my hand when she gets a stick, try to make her smile when she feels bad and fight to help find a cure for diabetes!”
