IL Girl With Diabetes Continues Fundraising Effort While Raising Awareness

DEERFIELD, IL — Like most students, Naomi Sharon is back in school this week. The Deerfield 11-year-old is also continuing her mission of doing some educating of her own, specifically about Type 1 Diabetes, a disease she was diagnosed with two years ago.

"Someday, I want to make the whole world turn type 1 into type none," Sharon, a sixth-grader at Caruso Middle School, recently told Patch.

Next month, Sharon will be holding her annual fundraiser to support JDRF, a nonprofit 501 organization that funds type 1 diabetes research. The event is scheduled from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 9, at Brother's Field, 340 Old McHenry Road, Long Grove.

"This year we are stepping it up to a new level…and you can expect a party," Sharon said. "We are a community filled with amazing people supporting a cure towards Type 1 Diabetes."

Sharon said this year's event will include food trucks, local vendors, a blow-up obstacle course, wagon rides around Long Grove and even a tiki bar for adults while kids are playing on the video game truck. A rock band, Tom's Garage, will be playing live music.

"What makes this year even more special is that Tom (the band's lead singer) has Type 1 Diabetes like me, and he is amazing," Sharon said.

In addition, Taylor Swift fans can enter a raffle to win some memorabilia signed by the music star.

RELATED: Raising Awareness — Deerfield Girl Hopes To Find Type 1 Diabetes Cure

Sharon said it is important to note that Type 1 diabetes strikes both children and adults suddenly and is unrelated to diet or lifestyle. It requires constant carbohydrate counting, blood-glucose testing, and lifelong dependence on insulin.

Like last year, JDRF is the biggest benefactor of the event, an organization Sharon calls the No. 1 leading charity focused on curing Type 1 Diabetes. Funds raised for JDRF research have helped Sharon directly, as she now has an automatic insulin pump. At a recent overnight summer camp, she was able to changer how own pump, a feat she never thought she would be able to do.

"I think when I have my insulin pump on, it makes me feel like I don't even have Type 1 and I can be a normal kid in the world," Sharon said.

Since her diagnosis in 2021, Sharon said she has learned a lot about herself and isn't afraid to take on the many challenges the disease present to her head on. She knows the fundraiser is an important way she can help other people going through what she is.

"I learned that in my life, it is important to turn lemons into lemonade. It’s my mission to spread awareness and to 'Be the Change,'" Sharon said. "I feel strongly that one day we will find a cure for this horrible disease and it is my mission to educate everyone."

To learn more about the Type 1 Diabetes event, and mark your calendar, visit here.