Fundraiser for Diabetes

Hot dogs sizzle on the grill. Guitar riffs and voices blast in the air. Lawn chairs block the street. Senior Emma Marston, a type one diabetic, is holding her annual diabetes fundraiser.

“It’s pretty much a block party on steroids.” said Marston.

For the second year in the row, Marston has hosted a Lawn Chair Gala in Westwood Hills to support her Walk to Cure Diabetes team, the Divabetics. The walk is organized by the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation Research, and all money donated will be used to help find a cure for diabetes.

This year the Gilligans Island themed fundraiser featured Hawaiian music from local band, the Barclay Martin Ensemble, and several East choir members, inluding Marston, and two East musicians. To raise money, Marston held a silent auction and sold food.

All in all, Marston and company raised $3,600 to donate to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, which is almost double what she raised last year.

Marston says she wanted to raise money in a way related to the things she love such as singing and theater, so she decided to host a lawn chair gala that feature her and her friends singing.

Next year, Marston has decided to pass the torch down to Sophomore and best friend Lily Kaufman, who will be able to donate the fundraisers earning to whichever organization she chooses.

“She’s pretty much my sister, and she’s my neighbor, so I’m passing down the torch to her,” said Marston. “She can choose whatever organization she wants to give the money to, but I think she’s going to choose the [Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation]”.
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The Walk to Cure Diabetes will be held Saturday, October 9th at Legends Outlets in Kansas City, KS.
Get involved at http://www.jdrf.org/