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 live with 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 type 1 diabetes (T1D) research to transform the lives of people with the disease — to make day-to-day life with T1D 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.
___________
— an announcement from the JDRF of Westchester and Fairfield
___________
This year there will also be a 1st Grand Prize Raffle with a fine diamond necklace from D’Errico Jewelry of Scarsdale.
Now in its seventh year, Catwalk has proven to be an afternoon of fashion, food and fun where guests can enjoy a cocktail reception, lunch and designer pop-up shop.
Kids with Diabetes on the Catwalk
This will be the fifth time Isabelle Carpenter, Delilah Brien and Ryan Sklover (all of whom are age 14 and have type 1 diabetes) will walk the Catwalk.
Image from the JDRF Westchester & Fairfield website
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
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.
What They’re Looking Forward To
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 volunteer 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 the JDRF Catwalk 7 of Westchester & Fairfield
- Date: Tuesday, March 7, 2017
- Time: 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
- Location: Abigail Kirsch at The Loading Dock, 375 Fairfield Ave., Stamford
- Tickets start at $200 and are available via the JDRF website or by calling (914) 686-7700.
- Raffle Tickets are available for $25 for one or $100 for four.
- Sponsorships are available at different levels and benefits, as well as some unique underwriting opportunities. Please contact Laila Tai at ltai@jdrf.org
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.
To accomplish this, JDRF has invested more than $2 billion in research funding since our inception. 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 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.