Hello everyone! Sorry I couldn't make it to Tour De Cure, I was sick in the hospital. It was my first time going back in five years which, to me, is pretty good. My blood sugar was really elevated, I had ketones, and I was super dehydrated. It happens to all of us, and it really stinks. But at least we caught it in time before I got too bad. Luckily I was able to stay at a local hospital by me, rather than having to go to the pediatric hospital. We have such a great staff of doctors and nurses that take care of my family and I. 

Since I couldn’t ride, my dad was able to go in my place and explore the site. He even face-timed me as he was riding! It looked like so much fun and the weather finally cooperated to make the ride a success. I can't wait to ride and participate again next year! We were able to get so many great fundraising ideas, corporate sponsors, and matching donations for next year- it will be exciting!

For the past two weeks, I have been visiting the American Diabetes Association day camps for 4-9 year olds. I got to pass out tattoos of knights and dragons for their “Kids of the Round Table” theme and go around and talk with the campers. Since I was diagnosed when I was eight going on nine, I never went to the day camps. I have only attended the overnight camps, so it was a great to see what they are like. Each camp goes along the same guidelines, but feels completely different. The first camp, Camp Discovery in Glen Ellyn, was at a fitness facility where we were able to go to different rooms, even one with an indoor pool! So regardless of the weather, we were always able to swim. The next camp was Camp Confidence in Des Planes, it was a fun outdoor experience at a historic campground.

I was so happy to see so many little kids go to camp and learn more. I loved how even their siblings got to go with them as well.  It was so neat to see some of the kids give themselves a shot for the first time- what an accomplishment! On Friday, there was an Exhibit Fair with a ton of stations that gave you information about diabetes and their "gadgets", as I like to call them. There was a magic show that was incredibly funny. The staff dressed up to go along with the theme, which was pretty neat. I love the games and activities we played, it feels just like a regular camp!

I'm basically on the edge of my seat for my time at Triangle D camp! I'm so excited to see old friends and connect with other people with diabetes. At some of these camps, I see some old friends that are helping out, being a counselor-in-training, as well as counselors!  I am looking forward to becoming a counselor in the next couples years! 

I'll keep you posted on the rest of the Association day camps that I attend, my time at Triangle D camp and the rest of my summer months! 

-Evey

Hey guys!

I'm super excited for the American Diabetes Association's Tour de Cure on Sunday! I will be stopping on mile marker five to hang out at the Camp Hydration Station.  I got a new bike helmet for the ride and I can't wait to try it out!

I also got my Dexcom this week. The one I received is pink and we are in the process of hooking up the blood sugar high and lows to my parents phones. Now we will be able to know where my blood sugar is at all times. I haven't tried it out yet, but I'm almost positive it's going to make it so much easier to manage my glucose levels. 

School is out and I am doing a whole bunch of fun sport summer camps. I just finished a basketball camp, and I am in the middle of doing a swim fitness class. Next week is volleyball camp, plus I have a whole bunch of softball tournaments lined up.

I am going to be at some of the American Diabetes Association Camps for a day or so to say hi and hang out! This will be my fourth year participating in the Association Camp Program; my favorite part is the blob, seeing other kids with diabetes and getting to hang out with them!

I'll be sure to post that info soon! Hope to see you guys at the Tour de Dure on Sunday!

-Evey 

Hey, I'm back! I am super pumped for the bike race! I have raised $1029 so far! That is amazing! I am super grateful for all those generous donations. I was able to get my school involved as well by arranging a jeans day for the teachers.  So, for all the teachers that wanted to wear jeans that day, they had to pay $5 or more to be enable to have that privilege. All in that day, thanks to all of the teachers, I was able to raise $576. I would like to say a big thank you to all of the teachers in my school district, as well as the Bimba Company, who have donated $200, and my other donating friends and family. Your donations are extremely helpful, every penny brings us closer to finding a cure for type one diabetes. There will always be that spark of hope that no one can touch, that fire will not be extinguished. I am so excited for the bike race and can’t wait to see how many people are going to attend and help make a difference. If you have any questions do not be afraid to ask me online or at the race! I promise I don’t bite! As exciting as that was I have even more exciting news, I am currently giving the Dexcom a try for a week. As first I was a little nervous, but hey why not give it a try. So far I love it, it really helps me manage my blood sugar so much better. Technology is a wonderful thing. With all this technology, help from doctors, and support from friends and family will make me unstoppable at what I want to become in life or in my future years. And you can feel the same way. All it takes is confidence (and a little bit of technology) and you will be untouchable and I promise you will reach your fullest potential in life. 

Here is the link to my personal page for the Tour de Cure! Please join us!
http://main.diabetes.org/site/TR/TourdeCure/TourAdmin?px=8384021&pg=personal&fr_id=10179

Hey Everyone!  I had so much fun at the American Diabetes Association's 2015 EXPO event! I met a lot of new people and talked to many different Camp families. Sharing stories and experiences with each and every one of you was very meaningful and I am glad  to have had the opportunity to do so!  I was able to give a small speech of how thrilled I am with the great endeavors I experience as the American Diabetes Association 2015 Illinois Youth Ambassador.  It was great to see what else I am able to do and accomplish for the American Diabetes Association in the future.  In the Family Fun Zone, at the EXPO event, I was able to adopt a stuffed animal, name it (I chose my best friend’s name), and teach it all about diabetes. I went through the steps I had to go through when I was diagnosed. I saw a bunch of kids running around while having a fun time in the exercise section.

 At the Family Fun Zone there was also information about Camp... I LOVE CAMP! This is one of the best places a kid with diabetes could ever go. The experiences, counselors, new friends, activities, and without even realizing it, the learning is a great way for kids to learn about themselves and diabetes care. I will be going to Camp Triangle D this summer for the 4^th time. I have so much fun going and I think that all kids with diabetes should attend a Camp at least once.  They would be able to experience Camp and see other kids their age that have diabetes and how they manage it, while having fun at the same time! It’s a wonderful learning experience. One of my favorite parts about going to Camp is meeting new friends and of course, "the blob” , a huge inflatable that’s in the water that we can jump on and get thrown off. How can you not love that? 

The next event I'll be at is the American Diabetes Association’s Tour de Cure event.  I hope you can come to this and hopefully join my team! My team’s name is “Evey's Starting Lineup”. It's amazingly easy to get registered, and there are many different distances you can choose from. I'm doing a 10 mile ride, but there are options for you to ride 100 miles! Super impressive! I can’t wait to see you there at the American Diabetes Association's Tour de Cure event on June 14^th, 2015. 

Join me at the ADA Expo and Tour!

Hey everyone! As i was thinking about what to write about, the only thing I had written down was, "I get up, go to school, go to sports, eat, go to bed, and change my pump every 3 days". I couldn't think of anything else! But isn't that what we all want? Just a 'normal', everyday routine like everyone else? I don't like the extra attention or people fussing over me. I want to keep my diabetes in control so that I can do everything I want to do. Things like all my activities and sports without having to sit out, go to the office at school, or do a whole bunch of extra steps. Somewhere to do all these fun activities is the upcoming American Diabetes Association EXPO event!

So, the American Diabetes Association's EXPO event is THIS Saturday, April 18th! I am going to be there and I can't wait to hang out and visit with everyone! I'm looking forward to meeting, talking, and getting to know you all. I'm also looking forward to all of the people who are excited about the ADA Tour de Cure event just as much as myself! I am signed up and starting my own team, so I would love to have as many people join my National Camp Tour Team to do this ride with me! The name of my team is "Evey's Starting Line Up" and you can sign up at my team website! I am hoping for a lot of people to come and support a cure for diabetes and ride along with me. I will be going with some of my family members and a friend. 

I will also be speaking at the EXPO at 11am in the Family Fun Zone this weekend, which I am excited for! I hope to see you all there!

ADA Camp Celebration at the Chicago Wolves Hockey Game!

American Diabetes Association CAMP celebration at Chicago Wolves hockey game!

Hello again! I am really excited to write to you all again. My family and I just registered for the American Diabetes Association Expo in April.  This will be my first year attending the annual diabetes EXPO, so I am looking forward to all the events, discussions, and activities they have planned. My friend and I attended the Chicago Wolves game back in January for the diabetes association.  It was awesome to see the outpouring of supporting families that surrounded us.  The game was great-  I had a lot of fun and can't wait to go to another ADA sponsored event. When I attend these events, I feel so supported, and that there are so many kids that are affected by the same things as me. It just shows that we are never alone in this and there are so many people out there that support us.

  

 I just finished my school volleyball season, so I am finished with school sports for the rest of school year.  It is kind of strange coming home after school. But I decided to join a club volleyball team to continue playing. I still participate in basketball and softball as well- I just have to stay active all the time. I am very competitive- my friends say I am almost too competitive even for P.E, but that is just me!  Playing all these sports make me feel so grateful for having my wireless pump. I like the fact that I can constantly wear it and I don't get hooked on anything and it doesn't rip off that easily. It is so convenient and completely works well in my busy, active lifestyle.  My goal is to set a great example with all that I do and playing all these sports with diabetes makes me know that nothing can get in my way.

Introducing the 2015 Illinois Youth Ambassador

Back in 2010, our 2015 Illinois Youth Ambassador, Evelyn Evans, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes just a few weeks before her 9th birthday. Evelyn, more commonly known as Evey, had begun to sleep more often, made more to the bathroom during the night and lost her appetite. Her mom was concerned and made an appointment with her pediatrician. After multiple lab tests, the results came in; Evey had type 1 diabetes. After being diagnosed, life for Evey was "somewhat difficult... but as time went on and a tremendous amount of support from family", she started getting used to her ‘new normal’.

Five years later, Evey has not let diabetes slow her down. She is a bubbly young lady who helps babysit kids with diabetes and collaborates with the Teen Task Force at Kovler. From the collaboration, she aspires to aid in the creation of a blog to host Q&A for teens with diabetes. When she isn't partaking in her duties 

as the American Diabetes Association Illinois Youth Ambassador, she spends her free time 

participating in sports such as volleyball, softball, basketball and soccer.

Long before taking on the responsibility of the Youth Ambassador, Evey has been involved with 

the Association. After attending Triangle D Camp for the first time in July of 2011, Evey couldn't 

believe how many other kids were just like her, and her confidence in diabetes care grew. She has 

had so much fun at camp, and it has had such a positive impact on her, she continues to attend 

Triangle D Camp. Evey says that "due to the Association having these large camp events I was 

able to know other children that were going through what I was...making me feel welcomed and 

understood".

In 5 years from now, Evey sees herself being even more involved with the Association and making 

a difference in people's lives on an even larger scale! Evey's outstanding energy coupled with her 

passion to help stop diabetes will lead her to a bright future. We are proud to have such a brave 

young lady be our 2015 American Diabetes Association Illinois Youth Ambassador.