2014 was a tremendous year for the Greater Western Carolinas Chapter of JDRF, thanks to you! (The Rock, Hollywood Pictures, 1996).  We’d like to share with you just a few highlights that captured the hearts of movie-goers all over Charlotte, Ashevile and Greenville:

 

     March of the Penguins (Warner Independent Pictures, 2005)

JDRF Kids Walk – 30 schools participated throughout the Charlotte area and raised over $172,000. JDRF Kids Walk is an auspicious program with significant growth and awareness potential that involves students, teachers and families in a fundraising fun-walk on the school campus.

 

     The Pursuit of Happyness (Sony Pictures, 2006)

JDRF Bag of Hope – In coordination with area hospitals, over 300 newly diagnosed individuals living with T1 were introduced to JDRF.  This program links newly diagnosed individuals with T1D directly with JDRF by offering them a fully equipped “home guide/kit” to help them better navigate their recent diagnosis.

 

     Good Will Hunting (Miramax, 1997)

Outreach Events –  The Chapter offered programs throughout the year that reached more than 900 individuals and their families living with T1.  These programs offer an opportunity for individuals to interact face to face with others with T1 and their families as well as learn more about JDRF resources and research through meaningful group discussions and guest speakers.

 

     Cititzen Kane (RKO Radio Pictures, 1941)

Chapter Board – Recruited 9 new members which brings the total to 32 Chapter Board members.

Board of Distinction – The JDRF Greater Western Carolinas Chapter Board received this prestigious recognition after achieving several key principles supporting JDRF fundraising, leadership and advocacy objectives.

 

     A Walk to Remember (Warner Brothers, 2002)

Pete Sowell Memorial 5K – Led by several inspiring twenty year-olds, over $30,000 was raised for JDRF in memory of Pete Sowell. Pete was stricken with type one at the age of 14. He never let diabetes control his life and lived each day doing exactly what Pete wanted to do. Eventually, the disease took Pete from us, but it can never take away the memories, inspirations and laughs that Pete shared with everyone he knew.

 

     It Happened One Night (Columbia Pictures, 1934)

Hope Galas – Both the Charlotte and Greenville Galas were magical and raised  $1.75 million with over 1,000 guests in attendance.

 

     Catch Me if You Can, (DreamWorks Studios, 2002)

JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes – 5 walks combined, raised over $1.5 million.

• Greenville Walk – Ford Motor Company, one of JDRF’s elite partners, led the Walk with 180 team members raising $38,000.

 

• Charlotte Walk – Sunbelt, a prominent construction rental company in the Charlotte area, became our Chapter’s first major sponsor. Over 400 Sunbelt employees organized into 20 teams and participated in our Charlotte Walk raising over $200,000, the largest amount raised from any corporation this year.

 

     The Great Gatsby (Paramount Pictures, 1974)

2nd Annual Grandparents Event – This special event held in Asheville raised over $60,000 with more than 100 distinguished members of the Asheville and surrounding communities in attendance.  The afternoon included remarks from Dr. Aaron Kowalski, JDRF Vice President leading artificial pancreas efforts.

 

     Breaking Away (Twentieth Century Fox, 1979)

JDRF Ride for a Cure – 32 volunteers from our Chapter rode a combined 3,200 miles (that’s more than the distance from the East to West coast of the U.S.) and raised over $120,000.  Missy Maag from the Charlotte area individually raised over $14,000.  Both Tim St. Clair and Nancy Pattison, received a coveted rose promise jersey given to only a select few each year for their commitment and dedication to the mission of JDRF.

 

     Extraordinary Measures (CBS Films, 2010)

Research – 2014 was definitely a year of progress in T1D research. Several major announcements were made demonstrating the exciting progress being made. These include:

• JDRF-funded Artificial Pancreas clinical trials conducted around the globe continue to demonstrate the value of these systems for improving T1D management and moving them further along the pathway to commercial availability;
• ViaCyte has implanted its VC-01™ encapsulated cell replacement therapy into the first group of people with T1D in a clinical study. This groundbreaking experimental therapy would not have been possible without over two decades of JDRF-funded research focused on developing replacement cell sources and on protecting implanted cells from the T1D autoimmune attack; and
• Merck’s smart insulin project is nearing its first human clinical trial. This novel insulin designed to turn on when it’s needed to lower blood sugar and off when blood sugar is at a safe level, was supported by JDRF at the critical early stages of development because it has the potential to completely transform daily management of T1D.