How the Do Rights got started…

In May of 2003, our connection with Type 1 (T1D) started, when our son, Daniel, was just 2 years old. We had just returned from a family trip to the mountains of Colorado. While there he was constantly going through diapers and was not feeling well on the flight home. We took him to the doctor the next day thinking he might have had a cold, and they sent us right to the emergency room.

We had no idea how Daniel’s disease would impact his life or ours. It was very overwhelming at first. Giving your child a shot is not something they teach you in parenting classes, but we practiced and tested on ourselves. We were very happy that Daniel was the youngest person in Virginia to receive a pump at age two.

Since then, we learned about all the technological advances that have taken place in the last 20 years. We have tried them all and supported the incredible T1D community. JDRF has helped us with research and development for a cure.

He was diagnosed in May of 2003, and our first JDRF walk was scheduled for September. When we asked Daniel, what should be our walk team’s name, he said “I don’t know… all I want to do is ‘do right’”. So, that is how the Daniel Do Rights walk team started in Fall of 2003. Unfortunately, hurricane Isabel hit Richmond right before the walk weekend and Maymont Park was decimated. Instead, we walked around the old office of the Central Virginia Chapter of JDRF. The building just happened to be called the “Daniel Building”. We knew we had a collection with JDRF!

For years we have supported JDRF and finding a cure through family team walks and Rides for a cure. We have been team captains and coaches. We also ran the “Bag of Hope” program for newly diagnosed families for years.

JDRF is focused on finding a cure for Type 1 diabetes. We wanted to do something more local for families in need in our community. On December 29, 2014, we established Do Rights, Inc. Foundation.

Recently, we finalized a grant process to donate grants of up to $2,500 for insulin, pump supplies or medical supplies. We know these items are expensive firsthand, and we also know some families have limited medical coverage. We partner with local endocrinologists to identify patients that we might be able to help and they distribute the applications. Today, in addition to those doctors, we have almost 1,000 family and friends who support our mission and are trying to spread the word about how to apply for our grants.

Daniel has had T1D for over 20 years. He is proof that if managed well, you can live a long healthy life with T1D and we want to help others have that same opportunity!