Chrysoulakis Family of Old Lyme to Be Recognized as the Fund A Cure Family at 2017 JDRF Promise Ball

JDRF is pleased to announce the Chrysoulakis family of Old Lyme, CT as this year’s Fund A Cure Family at their 2017 Promise Ball. The annual gala, hosted by the Greater CT / Western MA Chapter of JDRF, will be held at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford on Saturday, May 20, 2017 to raise funds for type 1 diabetes (T1D) research.

When Alex Chrysoulakis was nine years old, his parents Angelo and Maureen noticed that he was drinking an excessive amount of water and took him to his doctor. They received news no parent wants to hear, “your son has type one diabetes”. What followed that moment was the realization that T1D doesn’t quit. There is never a break from constant finger pricks, calculations, shots, tears, fears and frustration. Every day, his parents say, Alex must carefully plan everything he does. Playing with friends, being outside in the cold, enjoying an "intense" video game, or watching a scary movie, can all have a drastic effect on his blood sugar level.

Alex’s responses to this disease have been nothing less than amazing. In the last 4 years, he has worked tirelessly to raise thousands of dollars for T1D research through his One Walk team Alex’s Avengers and continues to volunteer as a JDRF youth ambassador. The Chrysoulakis family is committed to finding a cure for T1D and JDRF is proud to have them represent us as our 2017 Fund A Cure Family.

More than 600 guests are expected to attend this year’s annual Promise Ball in support of JDRF. Proceeds from the event will go towards research and treatments of type 1 diabetes. Last year’s gala event raised more than $1.1M for the Greater CT/Western MA Chapter.

According to Jon Muskrat, Chapter Executive Director, the event will include a cocktail reception; a multi-course dinner; silent and live auctions; JDRF’s signature Fund A Cure program, during which 100% tax-deductible contributions may be made directly to research. Bill and Patty Rotatori will serve as the Gala’s chairs and the Esposito Hughes Family will be honored for their more than 20 years of support to T1D research.

JDRF is the leading global organization focused on type 1 diabetes (T1D) research. JDRF’s goal is to progressively remove the impact of T1D from people’s lives until we achieve a world without T1D. JDRF collaborates with a wide spectrum of partners and is the only organization with the scientific resources, policy influence and a working plan to bring life-changing therapies from the lab to the community. As the largest
charitable supporter of T1D research, JDRF is currently sponsoring $450 million in charitable research in 17 countries.