Advocacy efforts have always been crucial for JDRF International – Heartland Chapter. In fact, it’s because of the grassroots efforts of those affected by type 1 diabetes (T1D) that JDRF was created in 1970. To this day, the commitment and passion of JDRF volunteers help move the needle of the agency’s mission forward.
Kameran Ulferts graduated from Fullerton High School in 2014 and is currently a senior at the University of Nebraska- Kearney pursuing a K-12 art education degree. “Since the beginning of my collegiate experience at UNK, I have deeply immersed myself into the culture and the community atmosphere of the University and the city of Kearney,” she said. On campus, she is a member of Gamma Phi Beta and the National Art Education Association student chapter. She is also co-founder and vice president of the College Diabetes Network. She works at the Crossroads Center Rescue Mission, the homeless shelter in Kearney as a guest advocate; as a teaching artist at Corky Creations; and teaches home-schooled art lessons once a week. Apart from the Kearney community, Kameran has also worked as a camp counselor in the summer for Camp Floyd Rogers in Gretna, Neb., a camp for diabetic children, for three years. She does all of this while checking her blood sugar and managing her type one diabetes, as well as advocating for a cure with JDRF International – Heartland Chapter, one of the 22 Community Health Charities of Nebraska member charities.
The first day of a new school year is always an exciting time – returning friends, new teachers and back-to-school shopping! But along with the excitement, feelings of stress and apprehension also creep in. This is especially true for parents and caregivers of children living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) as they prepare for another school year.
For many, the diagnosis of a chronic illness can be isolating, even with support from family and friends. Some people still feel that no one can relate to what they are going through unless they have experienced the same diagnosis. In their desperation, there is somewhere they can turn to for this kind of support. The funds for this support comes from donor contributions given to Community Health Charities of Nebraska during annual workplace campaigns. Our member charities can connect people with support groups where they can learn more about their diagnosis and talk to others who are experiencing similar problems.
