Diagnosed with type 2 diabetes more than five years earlier, 52-year-old Yves Provost took on the Diabetes Summer Surge challenge and began cycling across Canada on July 2, 2009, from Victoria, BC, to Halifax, NS!

Yves, a Canadian Armed Forces member working for National Defense as a contractor, was inspired by reading stories of others raising funds for good causes. Having three to four months free to dedicate to reaching his goal, Yves hoped to raise thousands of dollars in support of the Summer Surge campaign.

“I’ve run marathons and triathlons in the past, but cycling across Canada had always been a dream of mine,” said Yves. “My family has been a great motivator and I also wanted to be an inspiration to others, to help them make the best choices for their health as it can affect them for the rest of their lives.”

On Saturday, August 22, 2009, after 52 days of cycling, Yves Provost arrived in Halifax, NS and completed his cycle across Canada in support of the Diabetes Summer Surge!

Dignity Memorial, one of the largest networks of funeral, cremation and cemetery service providers in Canada and the U.S., organized a “Walk of Memories” to support last year’s Diabetes Summer Surge campaign.

“We wanted to do something to raise awareness about diabetes, as well as to raise funds for the Canadian Diabetes Association,” says Jenny Glover, Community Relations with Dignity Memorial. “The Dignity Memorial Walk of Memories made sense because walking is something most people can do and it also gave our client’s families an opportunity to walk in memory of their loved ones.”

Years ago, Dignity Memorial decided to focus its philanthropic efforts on one organization to help make a larger impact. Their mission was to make a difference in the fight against diabetes. “The Canadian Diabetes Association is very fortunate to have the dedication and support of the committed employees of Dignity Memorial,” states Linda Barlow, Corporate Development Officer with the Canadian Diabetes Association.

The Dignity Memorial Walk of Memories was held in September, 2009, at the Jerrett Funeral Home in Thornhill, Ontario. The goal of their walk was to raise awareness about diabetes, to help families cope with the loss of a loved one and to raise funds for the Canadian Diabetes Association.

Anyone who has met Petronella “Nel” Peach of Salmon Arm, BC, knows that she is a courageous and determined individual. Nel was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes 31 years ago, which began her journey of self-education and lifestyle change.

Turning 70 years old is a milestone to most people. If you’re Nel Peach – who actively volunteers with the Canadian Diabetes Association, is an Association regional chair, carried the Olympic torch for people living with diabetes, and completed four international and six national marathons since joining Team Diabetes in 2004 – turning 70 may just be any other day. She made her 70th birthday another milestone by continuing to celebrate and support the over 9 million Canadians living with diabetes and prediabetes.

Similar to her Diabetes Summer Surge event in 2009, Nel hosted a party in her hometown on July 24, 2010. “For quite a few years, we have used the idea of receiving donations for the Canadian Diabetes Association instead of gifts,” Nel explained. “This way, we get to share what we have with the over 9 million Canadians living with diabetes and prediabetes by supporting the research, advocacy, education and services the Association is committed to bringing forth. In our minds, there is no better way to celebrate with others than by supporting the Association”.

Aside from connecting with family and friends during her event, Nel was also able to connect with virtual donors as well. “I have no secrets as a fundraiser. I just ask. Most people I know are aware that I have been successfully living with diabetes for quite some time, and I want to do my part to help.”

To those thinking about participating in the Diabetes Summer Surge, Nel’s parting words were, “Step outside of your comfort zone and others will be inspired by your tenacity. Put fun into fundraising. Celebrate summer and invite others to join you in the quest of raising funds for the Association.

With the hope of raising diabetes awareness and funds, eight year-old Jackson Holmquist from Wynyard, Saskatchewan, hosted a “Dollars for Diabetes” BBQ and activity day in support of the 2009 Diabetes Summer Surge campaign.

On August 11, 2009, Wynyard residents and visitors joined Jackson and his family and friends at the Wynyard Sports Ground. The day consisted of a few short presentations about diabetes, and families brought a picnic lunch, cooked their own hot dogs and hamburgers and enjoyed games of beach volleyball, horseshoes and much more.

Since being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, Jackson remains very active and energetic. “He’s into hockey, baseball, soccer… and now golf,” said his father, Todd Holmquist. “We made it into a Diabetes Summer Surge challenge for Jackson. For every 10 dollars he raised in donations for the Diabetes Summer Surge – all going to the Canadian Diabetes Association – I personally paid him a dollar.”

When the Holmquists first heard about the Diabetes Summer Surge, they decided that rallying their friends, family and community together with a fun-filled event was a natural fit.

Jackson is an inspiration as he exceeded his fundraising goal and raised over $2,600 in support of the Canadian Diabetes Association.

On July 12, 2010, Regina’s Ramble Fastball Park saw the Regina Police Hitmen baseball team head for the field for a fun-filled game against a roster of the Canadian Football League (CFL) Alumni Association Allstars.

As part of the Celebrity Slow Pitch Challenge (CSPC), event proceeds were donated to the Canadian Diabetes Association’s Diabetes Summer Surge. A community-minded fundraising challenge now in its sixth year, the CSPC travels across Canada inviting local groups to participate and direct earnings to a charity of their choice. The line-up of CFL Association Allstars to included Herm Harrison, Terry Evanshen, Willie Pless, PeeWee Smith, Mike Maurer and Bob Poley.

Event Chair, Regina Police Constable Kelly Shumay, says deciding to participate and channel funds to the Association was based on many reasons, one of them being personal as diabetes has affected members of his family.

“My grandma, uncle and sister have had to live with this disease,” says Kelly. “My sister was diagnosed when she was only 11 years old – not fun for a young girl – but with the support of our family and friends and her positive attitude, she is a complete success.”

Learn about Celebrity Slow Pitch Challenge events across Canada at celebrityslowpitch.com.

While diabetes education and awareness are an important part of Jean Cole’s volunteer work with the Canadian Diabetes Association, the Nova Scotia resident recognized the need to lend a hand as part of the 2010 Diabetes Summer Surge campaign.

“Raising money to support the work of the Association is the only way we will find a cure,” says Jean.

Because both Jean and her husband Michael live with diabetes, Jean takes steps to become more aware about diabetes and self-management.  Jean and five others were the recipients of the Association’s Volunteer of the Year Award in 2010 due to outstanding support for bringing diabetes awareness to the community. The volunteer group has coordinated diabetes education events in their community.

“Through my involvement with the Association I have become more educated about serious complications such as eye disease and the need for proper foot care,” says Jean.

Though Jean admits to not being a fundraiser, she thought a Diabetes Summer Surge yard sale would be a great way to support the campaign and do her part to raise money. The 70-year-old solicited support from her friends and neighbours who had many iitems to donate to her sale.

“There’s a social aspect that goes along with yard sales and it allows you to get to know your neighbours.”

To help show their support for the Canadian Diabetes Association, 14-year-old Samantha Tucker and her family hosted a pig roast for their Diabetes Summer Surge.

When Samantha was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, her mother Leanne began researching everything she could about her daughter’s condition and the diabetes community.

As she searched through the Canadian Diabetes Association website, Leanne was excited to find information about the Diabetes Summer Surge campaign. It piqued her interest as a way to get involved and give back to the diabetes community. “It was a challenge, and I like a challenge,” she says. “We’d been looking for something to do, and it seemed like a really good idea, especially last summer when we were able to get more people involved.”

The Tucker family had hosted a pig roast in Richer, Manitoba, for a few years. In the past, they have collected donated items for Winnipeg Harvest. In the summer of 2009, they added the Diabetes Summer Surge to their pig roast to increase diabetes awareness and raise funds for the Canadian Diabetes Association.

The Ottawa Phoenix Basketball Club takes participating students who would otherwise not get to play basketball and provides a program where these students get all the benefits of participating in competitive sports. This program helps to develop the physical and emotional well-being and social development of student athletes and also helps them to develop their sense of citizenship, dedication to sportsmanship and fair play.

The Canadian Diabetes Association needs community mobilization, like Diabetes Summer Surge events, to grow and we are reaching those goals with committed people and organizations like the Ottawa Phoenix Basketball Club and its players. With their help, we can truly make a difference in the lives of those living with diabetes in Eastern Ontario.

Rufus Dorsey was one of the many new Diabetes Summer Surgers involved in the 2010 campaign. His event, called “Dancing for Diabetes,” was a celebration of friendships and the good times that can be enjoyed even with a full-time disease like diabetes. “It was a night of dancing, fitness and fun all rolled into one,” says Rufus, who is an actor, certified fitness trainer and volunteer for the Canadian Diabetes Association in Vancouver.

When Rufus was 17, he should have been having the time of his life as a high school senior; instead he was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. He had just been voted Best Athlete, made the all-star football team, won a United States Army Scholar/Athlete Award and had even been voted prom king. Even though his diagnosis was devastating, it became a catalyst, prompting him to rise above the challenges of diabetes and to also help other people living with the disease.

“I want to motivate and inspire people living with diabetes by living an active lifestyle and being a role model,” Rufus explains. “Living with diabetes can be very hard and I have rough days – I’m human. But, then I just remember how we can all support each other.”

As a fitness trainer and a person living diabetes, Rufus understands the importance of physical activity to effectively manage the disease. For someone like Rufus who loves to dance, it may seem like nothing but fun, but it can make for an excellent workout. Dancing can burn as much as 500 calories, strengthen bones and improve balance. And the dancing can increase the cool factor – trust Rufus on that!

Rufus’ Dancing for Diabetes event took place on July 9, 2010 at the Republic Nightclub in Vancouver. “I’m doing this to help raise money for research and to promote diabetes awareness and prevention,” Rufus explains. He hopes that his Dancing For Diabetes event helped to inspire others to put on their dancing shoes and follow suit.  “By getting involved you’re helping a great organization battle a disease that affects so many lives.”

Wanting to honour their late father who lived with diabetes for the last 20 years of his life, and also wanting to give to a good cause, sisters Jodie Gagola and Jenn Larrazabal fired up the barbecue, turned up the tunes and invited all their friends and family to a Diabetes Summer Surge fundraiserin St. Andrews, Manitoba.

After returning to the Winnipeg area after living in Alberta for a number of years, Jodie decided that her new property just outside the city would be the perfect venue for a summer gathering/homecoming. Jenn, who volunteers with the Canadian Diabetes Association in Winnipeg, thought adding the Diabetes Summer Surge to the fun would be a perfect fit, and so “Jodie & Jenn’s Summer BBQ” was born.

“Moving back here, I’ve had a need to get involved in my community,” says Jodie. “Having family members affected with this disease has allowed me to connect with the Association and I want to help in any way I can.” She says that her overall reason for hosting an event is to promote healthy living and raise money and awareness for diabetes, adding that it’s also a great reason for a “housewarming with a twist – donations instead of gifts!”