Over the past four years, staff at the Southern Michigan Correctional Facility (JMF) have raised more than $25,000 for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Fundraising through cook outs, JMF Inmate Benefit Fund donations, family and friends and commited volunteering at the Michigan International Speedway accomplished this spectacular contribution.

Volunteers throughout the MDOC worked with JMF staff this past summer raising more than $7,500 in conjunction with Sammy’s Team. Sammy's Team was organized by RUM Terri Huffman who has a 12-year-old son who was diagnosed with Type I diabetes when he was five.

Because of those donations and the research that has been made available, Sam is now on the Minimed Insulin Pump and enjoyed a steak dinner for the first time without having to take a shot. Because of the pump, Sam no longer has to take the six insulin injections a day that he was previously taking.

The development of the pump and all the technology associated with it were made available because of the research money that comes from grassroot fundraising such as that done for Sammy’s Team.

JMF has been represented at the Jackson Walk to Cure Diabetes for the past four years. If you are interested in fundraising and joining the walk please contact Terri Huffman at 517-780-6540.

Michigan Department of Corrections FYI 020305