Celebrate an evening of ‘Diamonds and Denim’ at the fifth annual Bar-B-Cure Gala to benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) Central New York Chapter on Friday, May 2. The fun will begin at 6 p.m. in the Imperial Ballroom at The Hotel Syracuse.

The ‘rip roarin’ good time’ has a serious goal to raise funds for the Foundation, whose mission is to find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research. Corporate and event sponsorships and advertising opportunities are available and offer numerous benefits/incentives to contributors. Sponsorship packets are available by calling the JDRF Office at (315) 453-9327.

Meg O’Connell of the Welch Allyn Foundation and Eric Allyn of Welch Allyn will serve as honorary co-chairs on behalf of  W.G. Allyn who would have been 100 years old this year and was insulin dependent the last years of his life. JDRF will be honoring the contributions of Welch Allyn and one of its founders, W.G. Allyn, for their continued involvement in community organizations that foster health and wellness in our community.

 Live music will be performed by Letizia and the Z Band and a live and silent auction will accompany the sit-down barbecue dinner.

How Juvenile Diabetes Affects our Community

The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) was begun in 1970 by parents of children with diabetes. They understood that managing juvenile diabetes was not the answer. Insulin is not a cure. Juvenile diabetes strikes children suddenly and makes them insulin dependent for life. Nearly 21 million Americans have diabetes, 14.6 million diagnosed and 6.2 million undiagnosed, with as many as three million with type 1, the most severe form of the disease. In Central New York, 930 children have Type 1 diabetes, with more than 210 diagnosed in 2007-07.

        The Central New York Chapter, formed in 1996, serves 19 counties and has experienced continuous growth since that time. Board President Dennis Cleary, senior vice president at Haylor, Freyer & Coon, an active board of 27 members, and the JDRF staff work together to offer local programs that include support and assistance to newly diagnosed individuals and their families, continued education and awareness and numerous events to fund a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research.

For more information, contact the JDRF Central New York chapter at (315) 453-9327 or online at centralnewyork@jdrf.org