You can help children have a "sweet escape" from their struggles with type 1 diabetes by participating in a sweet fun run on Saturday, Feb. 11, in Millen. Both Georgia and South Carolina have involvement in the upcoming 5K and 1M Fun Run to raise money for Camp Sweet Escape, a flagship program of the South Carolina Youth Diabetes Association.
Online registration for the run ends on Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 11:59 p.m.
SCYDA helping Camp Sweet Escape
Camp Sweet Escape (CSE) has as its tagline (probably more of a “Tag, you’re it!” line because of the fun camp), “Until there's a cure, there's Camp Sweet Escape!” The escape is from diabetes, and the reality is that there is not a cure for it. In the meantime, there are camps like the aforementioned to help children with type 1 diabetes to get away from things for a while and still get all the medical attention they need.
Here at Camp Sweet Escape, we are driven by a single goal; to improve the lives of the youth in the southeast who are living, and dealing with, the challenges of type 1 diabetes. The South Carolina Youth Diabetes Association (SCYDA) was created by a group of like-minded individuals who saw the need for additional medically-driven camping opportunities for children with diabetes. Camp Sweet Escape was created to be both adventurous and medically safe. Summers are made for Camp Sweet Escape.
Camp Sweet Escape
Felicia Delk, who lives in the greater Barnwell, SC area, has been a Board member for the South Carolina Youth Diabetes Association for four years. Felicia has been promoting the 5K and fun run to raise money for the camp. CSE is a camp for children with type 1 diabetes in the Central Savannah River Area and surrounding areas.
“One of the idea originators, Emily Edenfield, is in Millen and lives with Type 1 diabetes,” Felicia said. “This was her and her father’s, Tracey Edenfield’s, idea to raise money for SCYDA and Camp Sweet Escape."
In fact, Emily has attended a camp for children with diabetes before.
Felicia continued, “Emily started attending camps after she was diagnosed at eight years old. As she got older and transitioned from camper age to counselor age, she wanted to give others the opportunity she was granted years ago. To do that, she began volunteering her time as a counselor. The 5K was another way to help her goal by raising money for CSE to be able to continue to offer these opportunities.”
Felicia started as a nurse volunteering for med staff and eventually became a board member and is also currently Treasurer of the SCYDA.
“I have been participating in camp for the last six (this year will be seven) years,” Felicia added.
Seeking Sponsors for the 5K and 1M for Camp Sweet Escape
Very recently, Felicia was still seeking sponsors for the event. She had been promoting the event well before Jan. 31, but the deadline for sponsors to be on the event T-shirt has passed. However, there are still sponsorships available and some perks for those sponsorships.
“The deadline for sponsor information to go on the t-shirt was Jan. 31st. We can still accept sponsors, and they will be listed on our website and social media but won’t be able to be on the t-shirt for the race. If anyone is interested, they can email [email protected] and we can get them the sponsor information or information to donate to SCYDA/CSE,” Felicia added.
Great Need for Camp Sweet Escape
In fact, there is a great need for the fundraiser this year.
According to the race registration page, “Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been difficult for non-profit organizations to secure donations. Funds raised by the Sweet Escape 5K will directly benefit CSE.”
The registration page also gives information about the camp funds are being raised for:
“Camp Sweet Escape was created to allow Type 1 children the ability to enjoy a normal summer camp experience surrounded by others with Type 1 while promoting diabetes education and ensuring their safety.”
Next, the page continues, “Each session campers are surrounded by a team of counselors (many who are Type 1 as well), doctors, nurses, and other medical staff. Many of our campers are the only Type 1 Diabetic in their family, school or community so these sessions provide instant connections and build life-long bonds. CSE sessions typically serve over 100 campers each summer.”
Online registration ends Feb. 8; In-person registration is on the day of the event, Feb. 11
Registration for the 5K is $25 and for the 1M is $15. The 5K is from 8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 11. The 1M also starts at 8:30 a.m. Registration on race day starts at 7 a.m. Registrations that were not made online before Monday, Jan. 31 are not guaranteed an event T-shirt.
Felicia said, “There will also be awesome giveaways including running shoes, gift cards, etc.”
For more information or to sign up for the 5K or 1M, please click here. For more information on Camp Sweet Escape or the run, visit their website or email [email protected].
