CORNWALL, Ontario – Crafting a Cure returned to Cornwall for a sixth year on Friday, Nov. 2, 2018.
Held again at the Nav Centre, 14 breweries were on site an 483 tickets out of a possible 500 were sold in support of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).
This was the first year that the event was not organized by Jeff and Cherie Lalonde. Jeff and Cherie began the event to support children suffering from juvenile diabetes, which their children have been diagnosed with.
Bill Makinson, one of this year’s organizers said that Crafting a Cure would not be as strong an event as it is today without the groundwork the Lalonde’s laid.
More than 300,000 Canadians live with Type One Diabetes. The autoimmune disease currently has no cure and lowers the life expectancy of those that it affects by approximately 16 years. A representative from the foundation will be in attendance at the event to answer any questions.
Funds were raised through tickets sales and a silent auction with items provided by sponsors from the community. Entertainment was provided by the Shiners.
Speeches were made by those afflicted with diabetes, including Seaway News‘s own Shawna O’Neill, who has had Type 1 diabetes since the age of 10. O’Neill explained to the audience that she has to inject herself with insulin six or more times a day and that she truly believes in the efforts of the JDRF in working to cure the disease.
The event saw great success this year, raising $25,000 for JDRF. Event goers were so eager to give, that at one point they were able to auction off a bucket of air for $300.
“We can’t thank our sponsors enough for doing this,” said Makinson. “Thanks to Jeff and Cherie for starting this event six years ago.”
