For the second year, Chris Dudley Basketball Camp coaches, Tyler Allen and Derek Duman have banded  together to host a fundraiser supporting the Chris Dudley Basketball Camp.  Duman and Allen both have personal connections to type 1 diabetes.  Allen's daughter Alexis, who attended her first year of camp last summer, has been living with T1D for 7 years.  Duman has been living with T1D since he was 14 years old.  Allen, head coach of the South Salem boys basketball team, and Duman, head coach of the West Albany boys basketball team, hatched the idea of Dollars for Diabetes when they started working CDBC together two years ago.  As teams in the same league, the coaches decided to take advantage of the games they would compete in to raise diabetes awareness and fundraise to support CDBC campers who would otherwise be financially unable to attend camp.  

"The Chris Dudley Foundation and camp represents hope for me as a parent of a child with diabetes, that my daughter can reach any goal she sets for herself.  For my daughter Alexis, it is a week she gets to be free and fearless with a bunch of friends who know what she is going through.  Dollars for Diabetes is a great opportunity for my South Salem basketball community to connect with my world outside of the game and educate people on T1D and signs to look for with their family." - Coach Tyler Allen

Allen and Duman spoke before the two games to large groups of high schoolers, parents, and supporters informing them of warning signs of type 1 diabetes.  Often, the symptoms of type 1 diabetes are mistaken for common illnesses or the flu.  The earlier T1D is caught, the better, and awareness is key.  The coaches also spoke about CDBC and how critical a space like camp can be for youth with T1D.  

"One of the coolest things about camp, not only is it the only [residential] basketball camp for diabetics in the world, it's also the one week a year that those campers aren't lonely or isolated. Often times when you have type 1 diabetes you're the only one that you might know in your town or in your school and it can be really tough." Said Duman to the crowd, "Everyone [at camp] knows what they're going through, and they get the opportunity to get to share stor ies, play basketball, and really just be themselves."

This year's Dollars for Diabetes raised  $2,340.21  to build  "camperships".... READ MORE.

If you are interested in organizing a fundraiser for the Chris Dudley Foundation, consider hosting a Virtual Diabuddies Dash in your home town, or contact [email protected] with other opportunities.  Camperships go towards funding room and board, meals, medical supplies, and other expenses associated with keeping youth with T1D healthy and safe while at camp.  If you would like to make a donation towards camperships, click here.