Local Kids Strut the Runway to Raise Awareness for Type 1 Diabetes

DARIEN SPORT SHOP Presents a Spring Fashion Show on Behalf of JDRF

What do five kids ranging in age from 5 to 14 who live in Greenwich, Stamford, Darien and New Canaan all have in common?  They all have type 1 diabetes and have volunteered to walk the fashion runway at CATWALK, an annual fundraising event for JDRF.  JDRF is the leading organization funding research to transform the lives of people with type 1 diabetes – to make day-to-day life with type 1 diabetes easier, safer and healthier and ultimately find a cure.

The CATWALK runway show by Darien Sport Shop features not only these local models but also professional ones donned in spring and summer must-haves.  Guests have the opportunity to participate in the “IT Bag!” raffle in which the very latest handbags are raffled off.  This year there will also be the 1st Golden Ticket Raffle.  It’s an afternoon of fashion, food and fun with a cocktail reception, lunch and designer pop-up shop.

This will be the fourth year Isabelle Carpenter, Delilah Brien and Ryan Sklover (all age 14) will walk the CATWALK.  Although they admit to being a little nervous about tripping in their high heels, they agree that it is a very special occasion in which they are not concerned about their usual fashion issue: having the outline of their insulin pump show through their clothes.  “Random people ask me what my pump is and it used to make me feel really self-conscious,” said Delilah.  “It’s always showing,” agreed Ryan.  “But when I step onto the runway at CATWALK and everyone knows why I am there, I can just have fun.”

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease in which a person’s pancreas stops producing insulin, a hormone people need to get energy from food.  T1D strikes both children and adults and has nothing to do with diet or lifestyle.  There is currently nothing you can do to prevent it.  People with T1D must regularly monitor their blood sugar level, inject or continually infuse insulin through a pump, and carefully balance their insulin doses with eating and daily activities throughout the day and night.  However, insulin is not a cure for diabetes, and even with intensive disease management, people with T1D are at risk for devastating complications such as heart attack, stroke, blindness, and amputation.  JDRF is the leading organization funding research to transform the lives of people with type 1 diabetes – to make day-to-day life with T1D easier, safer and healthier and ultimately find a cure.   JDRF’s mission is to turn Type One into Type None.

Naomi Wiegenfeld, just 5 years old and diagnosed with type 1 diabetes about 2 years ago, is looking forward to modeling in CATWALK with her older brother, Tamir, who is 7 years old.  Naomi is clearly a budding fashionista; a stylish mini crossbody handbag holds an iPhone that connects wirelessly to a Continuous Glucose Monitor she wears on her body in addition to her insulin pump.  The Continuous Glucose Monitor helps her manage her blood sugar from minute-to-minute.  Although she makes it a fashion statement, Naomi wishes she didn’t always have to carry a purse and phone.  “No other 5-year-old has a phone,” said Naomi.

When asked what they would wish for from the CATWALK donations to JDRF, the 14-year-old girls agreed that it would be wonderful to have options for a less visible insulin pump.  But Isabelle spoke for them all when she said, “More importantly, it would be amazing to make insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors accessible to kids who can’t afford them.”  All of these type 1 models hope to raise more money this year than ever before.  And Naomi and Tamir hope that there will be ice cream at the CATWALK lunch.

About JDRF:

JDRF is the leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes (T1D) research. Our mission is to accelerate life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent and treat T1D and its complications. We are an organization built on a grassroots model of people connecting in their local communities, collaborating regionally for efficiency and broader fundraising impact, and uniting on a national stage to pool resources, passion, and energy. We collaborate with academic institutions, policymakers, and corporate and industry partners to develop and deliver a pipeline of innovative therapies to people living with T1D. Our staff and volunteers in more than 100 locations throughout the United States and our six international affiliates are dedicated to advocacy, community engagement and our vision of a world without T1D. For more information, please visit jdrf.org or follow us on Twitter: @JDRF.

About the JDRF “CATWALK 7” of Westchester and Fairfield

Date:  Tuesday, March 7, 2017

Time:  11:00 am – 1:30 pm

Location:  Abigail Kirsch at The Loading Dock at 375 Fairfield Avenue, Stamford, CT

Tickets start at $200 and are available via www.jdrf.org/westchesterfairfield/catwalk or by calling (914) 686-7700.

Raffle Tickets are available for $25 for 1 or $100 for 4.

Sponsorships are available at different levels and benefits, as well as some unique underwriting opportunities.  Please contact Laila Tai at ltai@jdrf.org

D
Submitted by Darien, CT

Become a Local Voice in Your Community!

HamletHub invites you to contribute stories, events, and more to keep your neighbors informed and connected.

Read Next