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Making waves to aid kids; Smith swims for diabetes program

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Don Smith, of Continental, who will be swimming to raise funds for diabetes on Feb. 2 at the Defiance Area YMCA, is shown at the YMCA pool. He wants to reach his goal this year of having raised $50,000 over seven years to help diabetic children attend camp.

By DARLENE PRINCE

prince@crescent-news.com

Don Smith has an ambitious goal this year.

He wants to raise $13,062 for the diabetes youth program. If he raises that amount, he will have achieved his long-term goal of raising $50,000 for the program.

"As of last year, I had raised a total of $36,938," the Continental resident said. "That amount was raised over seven years. Last year, alone, I raised $10,165. I want to raise enough money this year to make it to my goal of $50,000."

On Smith's birthday on Feb. 2, he will swim 300 laps at the Defiance Area YMCA. Interested donors can make a pledge per lap or a maximum total donation. The donation is 100 percent tax deductible.

"I plan on starting my swim at 8 a.m.," Smith said. "It will take me about four hours to swim those laps.

"So far, the fundraising has been going very well," he noted. "The regular donors have come back and I have even picked up a few new ones. Even in bad times, people will come through."

All proceeds from Smith's swim will go toward services for children with diabetes. His swim is part of the Swim and Stride for Diabetes fundraiser conducted by Diabetes Youth Services (DYS), which has its headquarters in Maumee. To make a donation, call Smith at 419-596-4277, or send a check, made out to DYS or him, to Don Smith, 200 W. Grove St., Continental, Ohio 45831.

DYS offers support services for children who have been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. There are more than 3,000 children in northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan who have received assistance from DYS. The mission of DYS is to teach children how to manage their diabetes.

DYS holds two summer camps for children with diabetes. The first camp is the Big Shots resident camp for children ages 10-15 from June 20-25 at Camp Libbey in Defiance. The Little Shots day camp for ages 6-9 is set for July 26-30 at Olander Park in Sylvania.

Last year, more than 100 children attended both camps. About 25 percent of the campers' fees were paid through scholarship donations. All of the parents who requested help to pay for their child's stay at camp were assisted.

Also, last year, 30 percent of the children at the Little Shots camp gave themselves their first insulin shot. Ninety-three percent of the children also learned two new self-care skills.

The diabetes camps are staffed by volunteers, paid medical people and peer counselors who are older teens who have learned to deal with diabetes. At the camps, not only do children learn how to manage their diabetes, they also learn they are not alone with their diabetes.