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AREA TEEN FINDS WAY TO HELP OTHERS WITH SAME ILLNESS
By Kim Fink OCEAN COUNTY
- When the alarm clock rings at 5:30 a.m., 15-year-old Brittany Dunham- Villa knows she has a busy day ahead of her.
 | | --Photo By Kim Fink Brittany Dunham-Villa gathering her sponsor information for the upcoming JDRF Walk in Seaside Heights |
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After battling her two sisters for the bathroom mirror, she eats breakfast and races off to school where a full day of sophomore classes awaits. When school lets out she heads to marching band practice followed by color guard and key club. The bus finally delivers her home at 6 p.m., giving her just enough time to get ready for dancing school. Homework is done in the late evening, leaving her exhausted when she finally climbs into bed at midnight or later.
If this sounds to you like the average teenager's life you'd be wrong. Brittany Dunham-Villa, of Manchester, is far from average. What most people don't see when they catch a glimpse of her running from place to place is the time she stops to check her blood sugar level, or the visits to the nurse's office for her fourth or fifth insulin shot of the day.
Brittany suffers from Type One (Juvenile) Diabetes, a disease that affects millions of children throughout the United States.
"I try not to let it get to me," Dunham-Villa said, "Most of the time I feel good so I just concentrate on helping other children who are suffering."
Dunham-Villa is the leader of "Brittany's Hope," a team of over 150 people who help raise money for diabetes research.
"I try to do whatever I can to raise awareness and contribute to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. The JDRF Walk is our biggest event of the year. Millions of people get involved with the Walk To Cure Diabetes in over 200 locations across the United States," Dunham-Villa said. "Our walk is at the Seaside Heights boardwalk. I'm really hoping to beat last year's total and raise a lot of money this year."
Last year "Brittany's Hope" raised over $2,000 to contribute to the walkathon. Her goal is to exceed that amount and she's is urging people to become involved. Her friends and family support her by entering every year and Dunham-Villa herself finds sponsors in all sorts of places.
"I just go everywhere and ask if they can help out. I get sponsors from business owners and friends. It's terrific," Dunham-Villa said.
The annual walkathon is attended by thousands of people who walk, jog or run the 5K distance in hopes to do their part in fighting the battle against Juvenile Diabetes. It will be held on Sunday, September 30 beginning at 9 a.m.. This year Dunham-Villa is graced with the honor of singing the National Anthem, kicking off the festivities.
"I'm a little nervous about singing but I feel lucky that I can do it," Dunham-Villa said. "I've got a terrific team behind me and we're just going to have a great time."
In addition to raising money, Dunham- Villa also helps other families and children who are stricken with the same disease.
"I do some babysitting for families whose children are diabetic. It's a real relief to the parents knowing they can go to a movie or out to dinner and not have to worry that their child might get ill. I'm so familiar with the disease that I can handle most situations."
After racking up 500 hours of volunteer work last year, Brittany is excited about the upcoming walk. "This is just the beginning of what I want to do this year. Researchers believe we're only 30 years away from a cure. My hope is to see that happen sooner."
To participate in the JDRF Walk For A Cure or to become a sponsor go to www. jdrf.org. Micromedia Publications, publishers of The Brick Times, were last year's corporate sponsor, and participate each year as Brain's Freedom Fighters. You have the option to register as an individual or join "Brittany's Hope," "Brian's Freedom Fighters" and other groups by selecting the Seaside Heights Ocean County walk.
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