Mikayla Volkers, 7, of Comox has joined global forces with 11-year-old Australian Rebekah Holt.
They are both raising awareness about Type 1 Diabetes, and raising money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, (JDRF) in a campaign the girls have dubbed Cut for a Cure.
On Nov. 14, World Diabetes Day, on opposite sides of the world, both girls will get their lengthy hair chopped for their cause.
Locally, Deb Deluca of Bellini Hair Studio is donating her haircutting services for Mikayla’s haircut finale. In Australia, featured on Sydney’s Sunrise Television, well-known Aussie television personality and fellow diabetic, Rob Palmer, will ceremoniously cut Rebekah’s hair.
Type 1 Diabetes is an extremely challenging, life-threatening disease that can strike people at any age. At present, there is no known prevention or cure of Type 1 Diabetes, but the global organization, JDRF, funds research in search of prevention, treatment and a cure for this disease.
When Rebekah was only three years old, she was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. Since then, Rebekah and her family have dedicated much time and energy each year to do their part to increase public awareness about juvenile diabetes and to organize fundraisers to raise money for JDRF.
This year, Rebekah set a $10,000 fundraising goal for JDRF, and began a series of fundraising events; in doing so, she and her family were instrumental in motivating many others, including Mikayla’s family, halfway across the globe, to join in on their fundraising crusade.
Mikayla set a $1,500 fundraising goal to assist toward the $10,000: she collected donations at her birthday party, is collecting pledges toward her hair cut, and her family is hosting a fundraiser at Courtenay’s Chances Casino.
If you would like to donate money or simply see the girls’ progress, visit Mikayla’s fundraising page http://fundraise.teamcurediabetes.org.au/ria_volkers.
— Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation