In the wake of the unbelievable devastation to our friends and neighbors at the hands of Hurricane Harvey, we reach out to say thank you. Thank you for your courage. Thank you for your perseverance. Thank you for showing so much of our country the unbelievable love and support we have in times of need. Thank you for exemplifying all that makes our community great, and all that we stand by and stand for here at JDRF.

It is our time now to recognize the type 1 diabetes (T1D) community for all that it has done during both Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma to provide life-saving diabetes supplies to those who need it most. JDRF, along with a coalition of diabetes organizations, joined hearts and hands to ensure thousands of supplies were delivered and made accessible to those who needed them most. Thanks to the tireless efforts of our JDRF family and volunteers, including our Houston community, we saved countless lives.

And to the first responders who put their lives on the line to rescue and secure those in danger, we also extend our heartfelt thanks. This includes the parents in our community, who every day are the first responders in their T1D families and our community of supporters who have stepped up in incredible ways to make sure as many faced with this terrible disease as possible were cared for, and continue to be cared for, during this trying time.

We know our community has been hit in unimaginable ways, but we must persevere. The JDRF mission still stands before us. We must continue to pursue our goal of a world without T1D. That’s why we are proud to say that our Houston and Woodlands Walks will still go on as scheduled on October 28^th and November 11^th. We will continue to raise funds that drive breakthrough research and recognize the continued strength of our community.

We are, however, extremely sympathetic to those directly impacted by the storm in any way. Regardless of your ability to fundraise, we invite you to register and join us at one of our Walks in support of JDRF.

Share the efforts JDRF has had during these terrible times — there is much to be proud of. Let us know how we can continue to support you as we rebuild. Feel pride and thanks for the strength of our community today, and every day, regardless of the challenges we face and stand by us as we continue the fight to turn Type One into Type None.

Sincerely,
Liz Vittor
JDRF Houston Gulf Coast
Board President

Rick Byrd
JDRF Houston Gulf Coast
Executive Director