Lake Ontario Swim

Stephanie Hermans - Lake Ontario Swim

On August 9-10, 2007, I will be swimming across Lake Ontario, a 50.5 km swim, from Niagara-on-the-Lake to Marilyn Bell Park, Toronto, in support of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. My twin sister Sarah suffers from type 1 (juvenile diabetes) and through my swim, I hope to raise money to help support research directed at finding a cure for diabetes and its complications.

Over 200,000 Canadians are afflicted with juvenile (Type 1) diabetes - many of them children. Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure and lower limb amputation and a leading cause of adult blindness, nerve damage and heart disease. It is the underlying cause of 50% of all heart attacks, and 5% of those who suffer strokes have diabetes. Insulin is not a cure.

Canada has the third highest occurrence rate of Type 1 diabetes in
children 14 years or younger in the world and the Type 1 diabetes occurrence rate is rising by 3 - 5% per year; the greatest rise occurring in 5 - 9 year olds.

Please visit my website here for more information about the swim and how to make a donation.

With your support, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation will
realize its mission: to find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research. Together we can make great strides in finding a cure for diabetes!

Thanks for your help!

Stephanie Hermans

P.S. Please pass on my e-mail and website to anyone you think might be interested in supporting my swim for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.