Junior ambassador to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) and Schreiber High School junior Adam Jackman recently stopped at Stop and Shop to thank manager Max Frisch for the fundraising the store is doing for the JDRF by selling paper sneakers at the checkout counters.
“People can buy a sneaker to post on the wall and the money goes to the JDRF, and it’s a crucial thing to help research,” said Jackman. “The more sneakers people see on the wall, the more people want to buy. I had the opportunity to meet with the manager and talk about all the people who bought sneakers and all the efforts they are doing. It’s a great event. I want people in Port to know that this is a cause they can support and easily support at local Stop and Shop.”
Jackman has had type I diabetes since he was three years old and began doing JDRF fundraising walks when he was four years old with his family. Each year, Jackman writes a letter to family and friends across the country asking they support the cause for a cure. For the past few years, he’s raised about $20,000 each year.
“I’ve been living with type I diabetes for almost my entire life and throughout my entire school life,” said Jackman. “I have to check my blood sugar six times a day and I persevere through and live a normal life through that. My family and friends have been really supportive over the years. A lot of them can’t make the walk and send money and checks. They send letters back and it’s a great way to keep in touch.”
While working as a junior ambassador to the JDRF, Jackman has given presentations through video and as a keynote speaker for a gala event.
“I just want to keep promoting awareness every year,” said Jackman. “I just want to get more people involved in the cause.”
Jackman will be giving a type I diabetes sporting speech at the TypeOneNation Summit, an event that brings together type I diabetes experts to share their knowledge on the latest treatments, breakthroughs in research, and the psycho-social aspects of living with type I diabetes on March 24.
“I want people to actually realize this disease afflicts normal people,” said Jackman. “A lot of people who surround me don’t even know I have it, but it is a reality. I do have to deal with it.”
For more information about the JDRF, visit www.jdrf.org.
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