Post-Con Address

Thank you to everyone who Donated items for our Auction at NERE 2005. With your help we raised $4000 at Auction and an additional $48 thru Tarot card reading donations and "Sneaker Sales".

There will be a charity event room focused on donating to this, as well as to Locks of Love. (More information will be forthcoming. Please contact Kimberly Lindsay if you are interested in assisting.

• Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF)

Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International (JDRF) is the leading charitable funder and advocate of type 1 (juvenile) diabetes research worldwide. The mission of JDRF is to find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research. Type 1 diabetes is a disease which strikes children suddenly and requires multiple injections of insulin daily or a continuous infusion of insulin through a pump. Insulin, however, is not a cure for diabetes, nor does it prevent its eventual and devastating complications which may include kidney failure, blindness, heart disease, stroke, and amputation.

Since its founding in 1970 by parents of children with juvenile diabetes, JDRF has awarded more than $800 million to diabetes research, including more than $80 million in FY2003. In FY2003, the Foundation funded 500 centers, grants and fellowships in 19 countries.

The foundation is VERY close to a cure. But funding remains a problem. There are actually 2 avenues the foundation is working on.

One is the CURE of diabetes, they have found that transplanting islet cells into the pancreas has started the organ producing insulin again. The drawback is that it only lasts for a short time (up to 8 mo.) but having an operation every 6 - 8 months or so is NOT a cure. They are looking into finding a way to make it 'stick' One big problem is the Lack of islet tissue to experiment on. They have done research on Pig to human islet transplantation, and there is much promise.

The second is immunization from what doctors think may be the virus that causes the pancreas to shut down. There is still a lot of research needed to be done to narrow this down. This would keep new children from getting the disease but would not cure those that have it. But it is a huge leap.

For those that don't know, Juvenile diabetes or Type 1. Is when your pancreas STOPs making insulin. Adults can get it as well but it seems to hit children under 18 the most. Type 2 Diabetes which you see as adult onset, is when your body stops recognizing the insulin you already make. This can be treated with pills, or diet. And on rare occurrences, insulin treatment.

Children with Type 1, have to check their blood sugar several times daily and must take a shot of insulin for every meal or snack they eat. They and their parents live in fear of kidney failure, loss of eyesight, loss of limbs due to poor circulation. It is a scary thing, but these kids take it in stride and are just GREAT.

JDRF sponsor's an online Support Team run by kids who have "been there."

JDRF also sponsored kids to go to congress on Capitol hill to speak out and let their voices be heard on funding and research. JDRF's Children's Congress gives children with type 1 diabetes a unique and empowering opportunity to help Members of Congress understand what life with juvenile diabetes is like and why research to find the cure for diabetes and its complications is so critical.

• Locks of Love

Locks of Love is a non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children 18 years and younger suffering from long-term medical hair loss. They meet a unique need for children by using donated hair to create the highest quality hair prosthetics. Most of the children helped by Locks of Love have lost their hair due to a medical condition called alopecia areata, which has no known cause or cure. The prostheses they provide help to restore self-esteem & confidence, enabling them to face the world and their peers.

Requirements for donation:

1. We accept 10" minimum hair length (tip to tip), not wigs, falls, or synthetic hair.
2. Please bundle hair in ponytail or braid.
3. Hair needs to be clean, dry, placed in a plastic bag, then padded envelope.
4. We need hair from men and women, young and old, all colors and races.
5. Hair may be colored or permed, but not bleached or chemically damaged (if unsure, ask your stylist).
6. Hair swept off the floor is not usable.
7. Hair cut years ago is usable if it has been stored in a ponytail or braid.
8. Hair that is short, gray, or unsuitable for children will be separated from the ponytails and sold at fair market value to offset the cost of manufacturing.
9. You may pull curly hair straight to measure the minimum 10".
10. The majority of all hair donated comes from children who wish to help other children.
11. Layered hair may be divided into multiple ponytails for donation.

Please note: Anyone can cut your hair as long as the above guidelines are followed.

• Operation Independence

Operation Interdependence® is a civilian-to-military delivery system® that serves as a program for Americans to demonstrate their support for our deployed military. Across the nation, men and women are given orders to deploy on a regular scheduled deployment. These deployments are known to the public and allow our service members and their families to plan. However, special orders are given as well for our nation's military to deploy at a moment's notice.

Below is a list of what they would like. This list is not exhaustible. Think 'What would I want if I were on a long camping trip with NO stores around?'

Here is the beginning of an idea list for our platoon. Please do not feel limited by this list. We are sure there are lots of creative ideas that have yet to be discovered.

Please note that all food items (denoted with an *) must be manufacturer sealed. Items that are determined unacceptable by the inspectors will be discarded and not returned. Any suspicious items will be removed. Know the source of all your donated items. The coordinator is accountable for all items mailed using the Federal Post Office system and all Federal Postal Regulations will apply.

It is always nice for our military personnel to receive a personal message from a supportive civilian back home. The serviceman or servicewoman who receives your C-Rat will enjoy the care with which it was packed, even if you choose not to include a personal message. Either way, it is a joy for the sender and for the receiver.

For those who wish to send a letter or message and need a little help getting started, the following is a list of starter ideas that may help get the words to flow. Do not feel limited to these ideas, feel inspired by them as they are only a beginning.

• Who am I? (a little information about yourself)
• Well wishes (your hopes that the message finds them well, healthy, in good spirits, etc.)
• Questions about them (where have you visited since joining the service?)
• Why I got involved in Operation Interdependence® (maybe a personal story which expresses what about the program inspired you to volunteer)
• An expression of gratitude (keep it short, simple and sincere - such as thank you for all of your work keeping America strong and free)
• A patriotic or inspirational message or quotation (something that inspires YOU)
• Information on how to write back (address of your school, club or contact)

Please, make sure you DO NOT SEND any of the following:

• Political propaganda
• Questions intended to obtain privileged information
• Inappropriate visual materials
• Personal identifying information

Thank you in advance!