Diabetes affects thousands of Australian lives every year and in 2019 the disease hit close to home for Travellers Choice, inspiring the award-winning group to raise more than $15,000 to help scientists find a cure.
Addressing delegates during the recent Travellers Choice Conference in Adelaide, General Manager Marketing Robyn Mitchell revealed that her nine-year-old son had this year been diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D).
“That means his pancreas cannot produce insulin, a hormone required to convert glucose in blood into energy,” Mitchell told delegates.
“Untreated, T1D can make you very sick. If your blood sugar is too high for too long, you risk going into ketoacidosis which can be fatal. But even when you’re on insulin it can be dangerous. Too much insulin and your blood sugar can drop too low, which can also be fatal.”
To help battle the disease, Travellers Choice members and preferred suppliers took part in a fundraising raffle during the conference, with the aim being to raise $10,000 for JDRF, the world’s leading supporter of research into T1D.
Twenty companies, including Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection, Adventure World, the Intrepid Group, Royal Caribbean Cruises and The Africa Safari Co., all rose to the challenge by donating major prizes. While others, such as Scenic and Wendy Wu Tours pledged cash.
Thanks to the efforts of the suppliers and Travellers Choice members, who snapped up tickets, the raffle easily surpassed the target.
“Travellers Choice members are always supportive of our group’s charity activities, but we were all overwhelmed at their generosity and that of our wonderful suppliers,” says Mitchell, who herself suffers from T1D.
“Thank you to everyone who took part – by doing so you’ve played a part in the fight to turn Type One into Type None.”
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