Sherpa John raising money for diabetes

I’m running this years Vermont 100 for the American Diabetes
Association Research Foundation. You can find my fundraising page at
www.firstgiving.com/teamsherpa

Here is a letter I sent to friends and family this past week. Thanks
for your support!

I was going to post this thread a few months from now, but an
unfortunate event from this past week has sprung me into quick action.
While on her trip to Arizona for Spring Break, Sarah’s (Sherpette)
insulin pump malfunctioned and injected a full vial of insulin into
her body while out to eat with her sister. In a matter of minutes 166
units of insulin was pumped into her body. Her normal blood sugar of
130 dropped to a dire 48 in a matter of SIX MINUTES. Sarah only
noticed the malfunction when she tasted insulin in her mouth. She
thought she the machine designed to make her life easier, had just
killed her.

911 was dialed and Sarah laid on the restaurant floor awaiting an
ambulance. Her vains began to close up, her heart raced… and she
began to loose consciousness. Thankfully, staff at the Olive Garden
were quick to bring out carb loaded food and Orange Juice to help try
to recover her falling blood sugar levels. If Sarah had fallen asleep,
she could have slipped into a diabetic coma.. and been that way for
the rest of her life… if she survived.

Thankfully, Sarah came home last night from Arizona thankful to have
the chance to see her family and friends again. A new appreciation of
life came with her. Even with technological advancements designed to
make the life of a diabetic easier, it is no cure. And a cure is what
we need And my mission is now more clear than ever. Its hard to
believe that I almost lost my best friend FOREVER last week, because
of the machine designed to help her… I’m very happy she is home.
____________________________________________________________

Dear Hiking Friends,

Two long years ago, I set out on a personal journey to raise money for
the American Diabetes Association Research Foundation. To date, with
the cooperation of family and friends in Team Sherpa and Team Sherpa
Ultra-Running, we have raised over $13,000 for the ADA Research
Foundation! It is our sincere hope that every dollar we raise for this
cause will someday help find a cure for this dibilitating disease.

As you may or may not know, my fiance Sarah Chretien is a Type 1
diabetic. She has struggled with diabetes every day of her life since
being diagnosed at the young age of seven. Now at the age of 24, she
is constantly hooked up to an insulin pump and monitors her blood
sugar levels with a prick of her fingers. This on-going process is not
only discouraging but at times painful and depressing. I have made it
a mission of mine to contribute a major portion of my life towards
funding a cure for Sarah and this unfortunate disease.

Through our efforts with the DVD sales of “48: A White Mountain
Documentary Film,” our 1st and 2nd Annual Team Sherpa Summit Cup
Indoor Soccer Tournaments, a hike-a-thon and numerous donations from
individuals, we have raised over $13,000 for our cause.

On July 21st, 2007′ I look to increase our total through my running of
the Vermont 100 Mile Endurance Run. It is my goal to run all 100 miles
in under 24 Hours. “100 Miles in 1 Day.” It is my hope, that you will
find it within your heart to support our cause and donate here to the
ADA Research Foundation through my running of the Vermont 100. I have
designed a special webpage where your credit card donations go
DIRECTLY TO THE ADA RESEARCH FOUNDATION. You can visit my webpage at
www.firstgiving.com/teamsherpa

Together, we can help find a cure and make a difference in millions of
lives. Remember; Every 21 seconds, someone is diagnosed with
diabetes…. Every 21 seconds, I have a new reason to run. In the 24
Hours I hope it takes me to run 100 Miles, 4,114 people will be newly
diagnosed with diabetes. THIS IS FOR THEM!

I thank you in advance for your donation and support.
Feel free to e-mail me at sherpajohn@gmail.com
You can follow Team Sherpa Ultra-Running at www.teamsherpa.blogspot.com
And please.. Sarah will enjoy your well wishes as well.

~Sherpa John