As a Realtor in the Grand Rapids area, I serve on the GRAR Community Involvement Committee. I believe in giving back wherever possible, and I encourage you to help me change the future for those living with Type 1 Diabetes. Please join my family and friends in changing the future for those living with Type 1 Diabetes. This disease has affected our family very recently, and powerfully, this past year. As I know it has many of you as well! It's hard to find a person who has not been affected by T1D. Our sweetheart, Calvin Andrew, was diagnosed with T1D, and our family soon became very aware of the seriousness of this disease. Calvin is my brothers middle child (3 boys). What my brother Keith, and sister-in-law, Courtney thought would be a quick visit to ER for a bladder infection, soon turned into a life changing event. Calvin will continue to show sheep at the 4H fair, rough house with his brothers and cousins, run around the yard with the chickens, and will begin football this fall; however, Calvin will also also need to be monitored regularly and will continually live managing this disease. The pokes this child has taken on a daily basis, and continuing to grin with his "toof-less" smile, has made him our hero. Due to research and technology, he will soon have a pump (which is VERY costly). We've come a long way, and we have a lot more to do. When you have T1D, your body stops producing insulin—a hormone essential to turning food into energy. Even with the most vigilant disease management, a significant portion of your day will be spent with high or low blood-sugar levels, which can lead to unpleasant short-term side effects and even long-term complications like kidney failure, heart attack and blindness. With T1D there are no days off and there is no cure. But there is hope. So, will you join us and help make a cure a reality? Please mark your calendars to walk with us on Sept. 21st. For full information on the walkathon, click here https://www2.jdrf.org/site/TR… and search Team Calvin. If you'd like to order a #teamcalvin t-shirt, please let me know via email at brooke@brookemariecollective.com. Your fundraising or donation not only changes lives for people with T1D but will change your own life too. The inspiration and fun you experience on walk day will stick with you, and the pride you can take for your role will last a lifetime. Thank you for your support. #teamcalvin