New York Jets QB Mark Sanchez to Help Raise $100,000 for JDRF in Pepsi Refresh Project Challenge
Supporters can Vote Online or Text Now thru Feb. 5
NEW YORK, Jan. 29, 2010 – Mark Sanchez, quarterback for the New York Jets, is helping the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) try to win $100,000 in grants as part of the Pepsi Refresh Project, an online campaign to fund programs that will have a positive impact on people’s lives.
Voters can go to www.nfl.com/pepsirefresh and vote for Sanchez, or text ‘MARK’ to PEPSI (73774). Voting ends at 12:01 a.m. on Feb. 5, 2010. If Sanchez outpolls other Pepsi Refresh Project sponsors, the funding will help JDRF establish a nationwide program to educate people about the symptoms of type 1 diabetes – the most severe form of the disease – and get medical care before suffering the life-threatening short-term complications of high blood sugar. Symptoms for type 1 or juvenile diabetes can be mistaken for common illnesses, such as the flu, and if left untreated, even over a very short timeframe, can be deadly.
“I want to help establish a much needed, nationwide educational program with JDRF to ensure that the warning signs of type 1 diabetes will become household knowledge for medical personnel, parents, teachers, and friends,” said Sanchez. “Then, a quick and accurate diagnosis can be made and proper treatment given before it results in a life threatening situation”.
In addition to Sanchez, quarterback Drew Brees and linebacker Demarcus Ware are also participating in the Pepsi Refresh Project challenge
“We re honored to have Mark Sanchez in the vanguard of our efforts to help save lives and eventually find a cure. Mark is an outstanding example of leadership on and off the field, bringing attention to a problem that can have an enormous impact on the 15,000 children diagnosed with type 1 diabetes annually – that’s 40 children a day,” said Alan J. Lewis, Ph.D., the President and CEO of JDRF. “All forms of diabetes are clearly on the rise, but the sad fact is that type 1 diabetes is far and away the most prevalent form of the disease affecting children, and so we are also grateful to the Pepsi Refresh Project Challenge for investing in a program that will positively impact so many lives.”
About type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks and kills off the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin, a hormone that enables people to convert food into energy. It affects 3 million American children, adolescents, and adults.
To manage their disease, people with type 1 diabetes need to measure their blood sugar multiple times throughout the day (typically by pricking a finger for a drop of blood), and pump insulin or inject themselves multiple times daily to keep blood sugar levels within a healthy range. That daily routine continues for life, because insulin administration does not cure diabetes.
About JDRF
JDRF is a leader in setting the agenda for diabetes research worldwide, and is the largest charitable funder and advocate of type 1 research. The mission of JDRF is to find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research. Type 1 diabetes is a disease which strikes children and adults suddenly and requires multiple injections of insulin daily or a continuous infusion of insulin through a pump. Insulin, however, is not a cure for diabetes, nor does it prevent its eventual and devastating complications which may include kidney failure, blindness, heart disease, stroke, and amputation.
Since its founding in 1970 by parents of children with type 1 diabetes, JDRF has awarded more than $1.4 billion to diabetes research, including more than $100 million in FY2009.
For more information, please visit www.jdrf.org .
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Jillian Lubarsky
Media Relations Department
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
26 Broadway
New York, NY 10004
direct (212) 479-7626
not a Jets fan, but good for him.
/ texted
If EVERYONE at juvenation votes, we can guarantee $100,000 for diabetes research- vote. tell all your friends. Hurry
~ Red
i was untill Sunday lol jk.. nice!
Eva LOL
What a great way to raise awareness! I voted and forwarded the link to friends and family!
Hmmm tough one. I'm a Cowboys fan and Ware is one of my favorite players and Sanchez did go to USC which means I automatically hate him for life since I'm an Irish fan but I suppose I can make an exception this one time.
That was easy and fast :) I will make sure everyone in the household does this and get friends and family to do this too !!
HA,Reminder to myself to get the other votes in !! Has everyone else been ahead of me ?? ha :)
For those who are interested, Mark Sanchez will be appearing live on CBS's The Early Show, tomorrow (Wednesday, February 3). He will share details about his commitment to JDRF and type 1 diabetes research. We expect Mark to appear during the 7:00-8:00 AM/EST hour.
Tune in if you can, and don't forget to vote for Mark at: www.nfl.com/pepsirefresh!
Click on the link for the clip from Mark's appearance on the Early Show!
[View:http://juvenation.org/media/p/59751.aspx:550:0]
Just watched it ! Thanks :)