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A license to help: "Drive out Diabetes" Grassroots campaign hits the road in VA
When Eva Clarke and her husband recognized that lack of public awareness is one of the reasons why diabetes research is still under funded, they decided to do something about it. The dynamic husband and wife duo joined together to design a new a license plate for Virginians to help fight diabetes.
JULY 2006 UPDATE: Thanks to Eva's tireless work, the required minimum number of license plate applications was met! The program is now underway. Be sure to order your VA "Drive Out Licenese" plate.
A license to help: "Drive out Diabetes"
A grassroots campaign hits the road in Virginia
For more information and to print out an application for the plate visit
the JDRF website for Central Virginia: www.jdrf.org/centralvirginia.
Article By Lahle Wolfe; Islets of Hope Press Release, 01/17/2006
Although a transplant to beautiful Southern CA, I spent most of my life in Northern Virginia. I miss the people, the fall, snow, and okay, I don't really miss muggy summers or the Beltway during rush hour, but I do miss Virginia. So when I heard about the "Drive out Diabetes" campaign knew that Islets of Hope had to help toot the horn for Virginians.
About the program
Eva Clarke (type 1 and pumping since 2004) is a volunteer JDRF Board member for Central Virginia Chapter. She and her husband recognized that part of the problem with diabetes not being on the front burner is simply a lack of awareness. Many people still do not fully appreciate how prevalent and life-altering diabetes is. So the dynamic husband and wife duo joined together to design a new a license plate for Virginians to help.
The "Drive Out Diabetes" license plate (large picture below) was designed to help raise awareness and funding for diabetes causes. Other drivers will see the plates and sales proceeds will go to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). Just imagine sitting in DC-Area bumper-to-bumper traffic (which is even worse than congested California freeways) and seeing dozens of plates! Not that Islets of Hope is excited about the number of persons with diabetes, but does get excited when someone like the Clarks are trying to do something about it.
Mr. Clark worked diligently with Virginia legislators to pass the bill approving this license plate (praise to the Clarks and caring VA legislators for getting this program approved).
The program needs your help to get started
The "Drive out Diabetes" license plate costs only $25 a year in addition to the regular renewal fee. Once 1,000 are sold the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation will receive $15 for every additional license plate sold -- over 50% of proceeds will be going to help find a cure for diabetes!
Eva, excited about the program points out, "That
means if we sell 10,000 plates, we will have $150,000 a year for diabetes
research in the state of Virginia! Plus, we will get the message out that
many individuals and families are affected by diabetes."
To get the program going and license plates into production, 350 license plates need to be pre-sold. Already, almost 200 people have signed up for the plates but 150 more applications are required by June 2006 or the program will be discontinued.
The Breast Cancer Foundation and the Autistic Foundation already have successful license plate programs in place. So let's get diabetes on the minds of others too. You don't have to wait for your annual renewal, you can purchase the plates now.
For more information and to print out an application for the plate visit the JDRF website for Central Virginia: www.jdrf.org/centralvirginia.
If you live in Virginia, please consider purchasing a new license plate to help further diabetes awareness.
For more information and to print out an application for the plate visit the JDRF website for Central Virginia: www.jdrf.org/centralvirginia.