Hope Gala Fundraiser to Benefit Diabetes Fight

By LAINE M. RUTHERFORD By Laine M. Rutherford Correspondent OCEANFRONT Kathryn Perry accepts life with Type I diabetes, but she's not passive about it . With determination and youthful energy, the North End resident assists local efforts to raise funds for diabetes research. For the fourth year, she's chairing The Hope Gala , the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's annual fundraiser presented by the Tidewater Chapter . The black-tie optional event is Saturday at Cavalier Golf & Yacht Club . Tickets are $160 per person and include dinner and dancing to the Gentlemen and their Lady, and silent and live auctions . Find a Cure is a special part of the evening. "Find a Cure is truly my reason for being involved," said Perry, 36, who was diagnosed with the disease six years ago. "It's a reverse auction where bids start high, maybe $25,000, and go down in increments to $100 or $50. Everyone gets a chance to raise their bid number and contribute, and 100 percent of the money goes to diabetes research. " Perry hopes to e xceed last year's Find a Cure total, $ 100,000. The evening's overall fundraising goal is $250,000. Silent auction items will include golf outings, gift certificates, sport memorabilia and jewelry. Live auction offerings will include two airline tickets to anywhere in the world. "We keep our costs very low by having underwriters and donations," Perry explained. "It may look very fancy, and it is, but with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation 86 cents of every dollar raised goes toward research." Foundation volunteer Kaddy Ward, president of floor coverings contractor W.C. C arpenter, is this year's gala honoree. The Oceanfront area resident became involved in the organization 13 years ago when her son, Cecil, then 3, was diagnosed with Type I diabetes. "Kaddy's always been available when we needed help," Perry said. "She's volunteered, served on our board, and she and her husband, Larry Ward, were really instrumental in getting this chapter going. She's been a strong leader and support for us." Ward is active with fundraising and the annual foundation walk, held in October at the Oceanfront. "I joined because I thought they were the best organization doing research and making the best use of donations," Ward said . More than 15,000 people are diagnosed each year with Type I diabetes. Most are children, but the age can range from a few months old to adults such as Perry, said Sally Elstrodt , Tidewater Chapter executive director. "More than 40 children a day are diagnosed with this disease . An event like this is wonderful, particularly Find a Cure, when you know that all the money raised is going to research," she said. Laine Me. Rutherford, laine.r@cox.net going? What The Hope Gala, a fundraiser for the Tidewater Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Where Cavalier Golf & Yacht Club, 1052 Cardinal Road When 6 p.m. Saturday Cost $160 per person Info 497-2202 for reservations (c) 2008 Virginian - Pilot. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.