Cookies for a cause

Details

Published on Friday, November 17, 2017

Photo by Eoin Devereux
The fourth annual World Diabetes Day Cookie Fundraiser, held on Nov. 10, raised $980 in the span of two hours. Additional support brought the final total to around $1,250.

Submitted
Neepawa Banner & Press

The fourth annual World Diabetes Day Cookie Fundraiser was held on Friday, Nov. 10 at the corner of Mountain Avenue and Hamilton Street in Neepawa. The purpose of the event was to raise money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). This organization commits itself to research that directly helps people who have type one diabetes.

As part of the festivities, Josie Pedersen and family members gathered outside of It’s Time Apparel and over the span of two hours, handed out cookies, sugar reduced hot chocolate and coffee for a donation. During their time out in the elements, the group received $980 in cash donations. An additional $370 was raised just a few hours prior to and after the event, making this year’s final total $1,250.

The Cookie fundraiser first began in 2014, when Josie was inspired by a friends fundraising effort for cancer research to support a student at Hazel M. Kellington School. She decided to do something similar to raise awareness and fundraise for type one diabetes.  The Pedersen family chose to make it a cookie and hot chocolate event and coordinated it with World Diabetes Day on Nov. 14.

After the event was concluded, Josie’s mother Christine Pedersen thanked everyone who donated their money or time to help ensure the day was a success. Pedersen also noted that they continue to do this event every year to raise awareness that people who have type one diabetes can do anything they want and live normal lives like their friends and family who don’t have the disease.