Washington-Lee student working to raise $100000 for diabetes research – Inside NoVA

Ever since he was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes as a fifth-grader at Claremont Elementary School, Alex Simmons has been committed to raising funds for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).

Now a Washington-Lee High School sophomore, he moves closer to his goal of raising $100,000 for diabetes research during a Feb. 25 event that drew more than 130 neighbors and friends to the Lyon Park Community Center.

The party, which included a silent auction, was hosted by five Arlington families who have supported Simmons since his diagnosis. The event raised more than $15,000, with all proceeds going directly to the JDRF, and boosted Alex Simmonss fund-raising totals so far to $75,500 in donations.

Ever since our son Alex was diagnosed with diabetes five years ago, the JDRF has been a big part of our lives, said Anita Simmons, a new member of the board of directors of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Greater Chesapeake and Potomac Chapter. They provide hope and guidance for so many families as we learn to cope with this diagnosis and protect our childrens health.

At the celebration, guests enjoyed a fully catered dinner by the Hard Times Caf, beverages from Dogfish Alehouse, a silent auction and the musical sounds of the Roger Taylor Quartet as they connected over a common cause.

Many Arlington businesses made donations, including local artist Sabrina Cabada, independent bookstore One More Page and SPARK Business Academy.

Previous fund-raisers have included local basketball tournaments, small parties with a purpose and a bingo night hosted by Simmons grandmother, Alease Brooks, a resident of Arlingtons The Carlin.

Bill Parsons, executive director of the Greater Chesapeake and Potomac Chapter, said the Feb. 25 event was one of the largest peer-to-peer fund-raising events his organization has seen in this area.

The commitment this family has made to bringing awareness to juvenile-diabetes issues and raising money for research has been incredible, he added. We all love the Simmons family Anita Simmons is a force of nature.

Complications of juvenile diabetes can be disabling and life-threatening. Each day, Alex Simmons who over the winter played on the varsity boys basketball team at Washington-Lee must monitor his blood sugar levels and give himself six to eight insulin shots, yet he remains focused on the positive.

I am not on this journey alone, and my close friends, family and relatives make this process much easier for me, he said. I encourage everyone who can to please donate money to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, not only for me, but for all of the children throughout the country who dont have it as easy as I do.

Alex Simmons is now a youth ambassador for the organization, and also leads a team that takes part in the annual OneWalk event on the National Mall.

Anita Simmons said their family is especially grateful to Rich Kelly and Cindy MacIntyre of the Hard Times Caf for providing all of the food for the fund-raising event, as well as for the help they extended to Alex and his family when he was first diagnosed with the disease. The Kellys daughter also has Type 1 diabetes, and they are strong supporters of Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

For information on Alex Simmons fund-raising efforts, see the Web site at http://bit.ly/2mmGi5g.

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Washington-Lee student working to raise $100000 for diabetes research - Inside NoVA