Sue Gordon has seen the impact of type 1 diabetes on her daughter and as a result, she is determined to make a difference for everyone diagnosed with this life-changing disease.
Gordon, a Delta realtor, is donating a portion of every real estate transaction to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). This charity is focused on funding research to find a cure and advocating for both adults and children with type 1 diabetes (T1D).
Gordon’s daughter was diagnosed with T1D at eight-years-old.
There are many challenges to living with the condition.
“My daughter wears a pump and a continuous glucose monitor and must ensure she is always carrying glucose tablets or a juice box,” said Gordon. “She can’t just hop out of the car and go on a hike; she has to have a plan for the inevitable low sugar. She also has to make sure that the people around her are aware that she has diabetes in case she has a reaction to high or low blood sugar. She could pass out. Thankfully, that hasn’t happened to her because she is so careful about monitoring.”
Uncontrolled diabetes may result in damage to the nerves, kidneys, eyes, and heart.
Gordon’s daughter turns 19 this summer and has just completed her first year at Queen’s University. Her mother is proud to note, “She just found out yesterday that her average is 4.2. She’s excelled and our family is thrilled about that.”
Once Gordon decided to donate a portion of her commissions to JDRF, she quickly exceeded her original fundraising goal. Now she has pledged to donate on an ongoing basis.
“I’m going to be donating to JDRF and fighting for a cure until I’m not here to fight anymore,” she said. “Let's turn type 1 into type none.”
The 2021 Sun Life Walk to Cure Diabetes for JDRF takes place on Sunday, June 13. To register, or to learn more about the foundation, visit www.jdrf.ca.
