INDIANAPOLIS, June 8, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Olympic
cross-country skier Kris Freeman and
NASCAR XFINITY Series driver Ryan
Reed will travel across the U.S. this summer to share their
stories of perseverance and triumph as part of the Lilly Camp Care
Package (LCCP) program. Kris and Ryan will speak to children at
select diabetes summer camps about how type 1 diabetes did not stop
them from chasing their dreams. This week, along with Lilly
Diabetes, they launch the 11th annual diabetes camp tour.
Most children see few obstacles when looking into the future,
but this may be different for children with diabetes. Kris and Ryan
aim to inspire campers by sharing their personal experiences and
encouraging them to dream big.
Diabetes camps offer unique experiences to children in a
traditional camp setting. For many children with diabetes, this can
be the first step toward gaining confidence for the future and
understanding that they are not alone. Campers learn critical
diabetes self-management skills, and many find camaraderie in the
shared experiences of fellow campers.
"Diabetes Camp gives children and teens with diabetes the
opportunity to enter that special world where they are just like
everyone else," said Erin Crosby,
associate director, camp programs for the American Diabetes
Association. "It's a safe yet adventurous place where they not only
learn about diabetes self-management, but also increase their
confidence and push their limits, while making new friends and some
amazing summer memories."
Inspirational Leaders
Skier Kris Freeman was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes
at age 19 and thought then he would never compete at the Olympic
level. In February 2014, he competed
in his fourth Winter Olympics. This year marks his 11th camp tour
and 13 years as a Lilly Diabetes ambassador. Since 2004, Kris has
visited approximately 12,000 campers across the U.S.
Like Kris, Ryan Reed, who was
diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 17, was told he would never
compete again. However, once he learned about strategies for proper
diabetes management, he was back on track to pursue his dream of a
racing career. In 2014, Ryan became a full-time driver for Roush
Fenway Racing and an advocate for diabetes awareness. This past
February, he won the NASCAR XFINITY Series Alert Today Florida 300
at Daytona International Speedway, his first win in the series.
Ryan is also the ambassador for Drive to Stop
DiabetesSM, an educational initiative with the
American Diabetes Association and Lilly Diabetes.
"Having real people who are succeeding in their diabetes journey
to relate to is so important for children learning to manage and
live with diabetes," said pediatric endocrinologist Andrew Cagle, MD, medical advisor, Lilly
Diabetes, and longtime diabetes camp volunteer. "You can't help but
be inspired when you hear Kris and Ryan tell their stories, and we
couldn't be happier to bring these outstanding people to camps year
after year. We hope their stories help show children with diabetes
that big dreams and accomplishments are not out of reach."
Lilly Diabetes has supported camps for children with diabetes
for 15 years and believes that attending a diabetes summer camp can
be a valuable experience for children learning to live with
diabetes. Since 2001, Lilly Diabetes has donated nearly
$26 million in insulin, supplies,
scholarships, and camper and caregiver materials.
Kris and Ryan's 2015 summer diabetes camp tour begins
June 9. To hear or read their
stories, or for more information on other Lilly Diabetes support
programs, please visit www.lillydiabetes.com. To find a camp in
your area, visit www.diabetescamps.org.
2015 Camp Tour Schedule:
Ryan Reed
June 18 – Camp Discovery - Chicago, Ill.
Kris
Freeman
June 9 – Kiki's
Kids Camp - Rome, Ga.
June 10 – Camp Seale Harris -
Jackson's Gap, Ala.
June 16 – ADA Camp JADA -
Jacksonville, Fla.
June 17 – Camp Bluebonnet -
Austin, Texas
July 9-10 – Children with Diabetes®
Friends for Life® Annual Conference - Orlando, Fla.
July 12 – Tennessee Camp for Diabetic
Children - Hixson, Tenn.
July 13 – Camp Planet D -
Overland Park, Kan.
July 16 – Diabetes Youth Services
Little Shots Camp - Toledo,
Ohio
July 17 – The Jack Rua Camp for
Children with Diabetes - Rehoboth,
Mass.
About Lilly Diabetes
Lilly has been a global leader in
diabetes care since 1923, when we introduced the world's first
commercial insulin. Today we are building upon this heritage by
working to meet the diverse needs of people with diabetes and those
who care for them. Through research and collaboration, a broad and
growing product portfolio and a continued determination to provide
real solutions—from medicines to support programs and more—we
strive to make life better for all those affected by diabetes
around the world. For more information, visit www.lillydiabetes.com
and follow @LillyDiabetes on Twitter.
About Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY)
Lilly is a
global healthcare leader that unites caring with discovery to make
life better for people around the world. We were founded more than
a century ago by a man committed to creating high-quality medicines
that meet real needs, and today we remain true to that mission in
all our work. Across the globe, Lilly employees work to discover
and bring life-changing medicines to those who need them, improve
the understanding and management of disease, and give back to
communities through philanthropy and volunteerism. To learn more
about Lilly, please visit us at www.lilly.com and
newsroom.lilly.com/social-channels. CR-LLY
LD96533 06/2015 ©Lilly USA, LLC
2015. All rights reserved.
Refer to: 317-627-4056; williamsju@lilly.com;
Julie Herrick Williams, Lilly
Diabetes
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