Village Yoga event to raise money for a diabetes cure

My name is Matt Campbell and I am a resident of Magnolia.? My son Matty was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes 2 years ago. He and his classmate Patrick Scott, who is also a type 1 diabetic,? have formed a team (The MighT1?s, which also includes their friend Kelten) for the Beat the Bridge race…an annual event put on by Nordstrom and JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) to support JDRF in it?s efforts to find a cure for diabetes.? Type 1 diabetes, also known as ?juvenile diabetes,? is an autoimmune disease whereby something has caused the body to stop making insulin, a hormone necessary for converting food into energy. No one knows what exactly causes it: only 10% of people? diagnosed with type 1 diabetes have a family member with the disease. Until a cure is found, it is a permanent condition that must be carefully monitored with frequent blood sugar checks and insulin injections either using an insulin pump or syringes. (Most people are more familiar with type 2 diabetes. With type 2, the body still produces insulin, but is not able to use it effectively without the help of medication and, in some cases, additional insulin.)

This is the second year that Matty and Patrick have teamed up together.? Their former pre-K teacher at the Magnolia Co-Op, Judy McEvoy, upon hearing about their team decided to do a fundraiser at her Yoga Studio to support the team. I have reached out to?a number of the businesses in the Village for items for a raffle and they have been incredibly supportive because it is such a wonderful cause… People?s Bank, Umpqua Bank, The Village Pub and Menchies have either given us an item or hung a beat the bridge poster or both.? I am calling this undertaking ?It Takes a Village.?? It?s community supported events like this that make me very glad to live in Magnolia.

The 1 great thing about Type 1 diabetes is the tangibility of the results over the last 20 years.? JDRF?s main goal is to cure Diabetes, but their secondary goal is the improve the lives of Type 1 diabetics and the progress that is being made right now, because of the fundraising, is incredible.? On the horizon is the artificial pancreas!?The bottom line is, there are (unfortunately) hundreds of worthy causes, but this is one where we are seeing direct results right before our eyes… As a parent of a T1D it is truly amazing and inspiring!

Village Yoga is proud to host a fundraiser for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation in support of Team Matty, Patrick & Kelton, ?The MighT1?s?.? This is a family yoga event on May 6th, 2-3:30p. Kids 4+ are welcome. Cost per family will be $20 at the door.