Husband, wife team-up to raise funds for diabetes

Don’t be surprised if husband-and-wife team Kevin and Rachelle Anderson show up at your doorstep this summer.

The Crestview couple has signed up with Team Diabetes to raise $6,200 each for the Canadian Diabetes Association.

If they are successful in their efforts to raise more than $12,000, they will travel to Hawaii in December with 100 other Team Diabetes members to participate in the Honolulu Marathon.

Diabetes is something that hits close to home for the Andersons. Kevin was diagnosed with the disease when he was eight years old.

“For probably about the first five years it was out of control because we didn’t know how to deal with it,” Kevin said.

“But it’s getting easier to manage than when I was younger. They have specialists now and it’s easier to monitor your blood sugar. When I was young they didn’t have that kind of stuff.”

Kevin still remembers a time when he was unable to visit friends or participate in certain events because of his diabetes.

However, he was able to go to a special kids camp every summer that was funded by the Canadian Diabetes Association.

“Every summer for 10 days I went to a diabetic summer camp in the Lake of the Woods,” he said.

“Which you really liked,” added Rachelle.

Now it’s time for Kevin to return the favour, which is what prompted him and his wife to join Team Diabetes. Team Diabetes is the Canadian Diabetes Association’s biggest fundraising program.

To join the team, the Andersons had to send a letter of application outlining why they wanted to join. Once accepted, they had to begin fundraising and training for the run or walk marathon.

The Honolulu Marathon is a world-class event, drawing approximately 28,000 participants every year.

Rachelle says she is excited to take part in the Hawaiian event, especially since the furthest she has ever been from home is Alberta. But she knows that there’s still a lot of fundraising work to be done if she and Kevin want to earn their way.

“We’re not quite there yet, but we do have a couple of fundraisers coming up,” Rachelle said.

Local MLA Jim Rondeau has donated food for a barbecue to help the couple raise funds. It will take place on Sat., July 19 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Rondeau’s constituency office at the corner of Hamilton Avenue and Cavalier Drive.

The couple are also organizing a bingo bowl which will take place at the Polo Park Bowling Centre from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, July 25.

Even with these events, Rachelle acknowledges that it will be hard to raise such a huge sum of money. But even if they don’t succeed, at least it’s for a good cause, she says.

“If we don’t meet our goals, I guess we don’t go to Hawaii. But all the money goes towards the diabetes association, which is fine with me. That’s what we’re doing this for,” Rachelle said.

Donna Paterson, the CDA coordinator for Manitoba, says Manitobans have been very generous as far as Team Diabetes is concerned.

Thirty-four of 100 Canadians fundraising for the Honolulu Marathon are from Manitoba.

“It’s the largest contingent in Canada,” said Paterson. “We’re very proud of Winnipeg.”

Paterson said there are 12 marathons planned for 2009, with the latest chance for people to apply being the Disney World Marathon. The deadline for applications to join Team Diabetes for Disney World is July 11.

In addition, Paterson said most of the participants have been personally affected by diabetes.

“Out of the Winnipeg team, 95% are affected in some way with diabetes,” she said.

“ When you consider that two million Canadians have diabetes, you can’t go very far without finding someone with diabetes or a friend or family member with diabetes.”

To donate to the Andersons’ campaign, call Rachelle at 889-9907 or e-mail

r.anderson@live.ca.