Oscar Townsend and his family are raising money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, including a walk to St Edwards Catholic Primary School tomorrow.
The Townsend family are bringing attention to the need for research into a cure for Type 1 diabetes, especially for children, by participating in the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) One Walk Challenge.
Oscar Townsend was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes four years ago on his seventh birthday.
He will be walking eight kilometres with his mum Mandy, sister Hillary and brother Fergus from their home to St Edwards Primary School on Friday, 22 October. His mates will be joining for the last few kilometres too.
Mandy Townsend said this is a fantastic opportunity to raise awareness and needed funds for the not for profit organisation.
“This is our way of giving back to the Type 1 community,” Mandy said. “JDRF does so much research. They’re trying to find a cure. This year, they’re also promoting 100 years since insulin was invented.”
Type 1 diabetes is usually a genetic disease. For Oscar, his diagnosis came out of the blue.
While working to discover a cure, the organisation is also running an artificial pancreas project. “We want to raise money for JDRF especially as Oscar received a pump to handle management of his diabetes. It’s a lot easier,” Mandy said.
“They cost $9,000 to $10,000 and we want to pay back to JDRF. They pay for them through fundraising and government lobbying.”
Mandy thanks the community for their support of their family, especially Oscar.
“Our friends in Canowindra have been so generous during [Oscar’s] diagnosis and along the journey,” she said.
Mandy’s parents and sisters have joined the family as part of Oscar’s Army in the fundraising effort.
To sponsor their walk, drop in a donation to St Edwards Primary School or donate via Mandy’s fundraising page: walk.jdrf.org.au/fundraisers/mandytownsend.