Utah Juvenile Diabetes

The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) was founded in 1970 by parents of children with type 1 diabetes.  Locally, the Utah Chapter of JDRF was organized in 1996, when a handful of parents (such was the case with the national organization) got together and decided that they could cure this debilitating disease.  Our first Walk raised $75,000.  This fiscal year, the Utah Chapter of JDRF is forecasted to raise $1,140,000 to help find a cure for diabetes!  Through the tireless effort of our dedicated Board of Directors and our terrific volunteers, we know we will reach our goal.

Our mission is simple: To find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research.  A cure is out there and through the help of people like you, we will achieve our ultimate goal: a world without diabetes!  Our organization runs very lean, with only three full-time staff.  We support the entire state of Utah, as well as the state of Idaho.  We run four Walks during the beautiful fall season and see over 8500 people out supporting us on Walk Day (visit our events page for information),

Meet Jordan Lindley, a spunky 16-year-old who was diagnosed with diabetes when he was a wee 16-months-old.  Back then, Jordan checked his blood sugar six to eight times a day and received four to five insulin shots - every day.  That's a lot of pokes for a little kid to endure!  Jordan's mom, Jennifer, a "veteran" who has managed her own diabetes for 23 years, says it broke her heart every time she had to give Jordan a shot.  But Jordan - like so many other kids with this difficult disease - has always been a trooper.

Life for Jordan and his mom now includes many fewer needle pricks (whew!) and a much more flexible lifestyle thanks to their insulin pumps.  Jordan's two younger siblings, Justin, 14, and Julia, 5, and his dad, Jeff, enjoy watching him play all the sports he loves, especially basketball and golf.  In fact, Jordan even had the opportunity to golf with "Dr. J." at a JDRF golf tournament! 

The Lindley family has been active in the JDRF for many years and is very proud of Jordan's efforts as an ambassador for diabetes research.  Jordan has spent countless hours on Utah's Capitol Hill and in Washington DC meeting with politicians and policy makers to educate them about the importance and extreme need for continued diabetes research. Governor Olene Walker, Senator Orrin Hatch, Representatives Jim Matheson and Chris Cannon, and Mayor Rocky Anderson have been visited by this energetic teenager with a quick smile and an outlook that lifts the spirit of everyone around him. 

Jordan's message?  "Insulin is like being on life support.  Please support the JDRF because children with diabetes deserve a cure!"

Our Chapter gives hundreds of hours of community service each year.  We give out approximately 300 "Bags of Hope" to newly diagnosed children, hold many support group meetings, meet with our elected government officials to increase federal funding of diabetes research, and attend many health fairs to educate the public about diabetes awareness.

Gary Leavitt is the current Utah Chapter Board President.  He, along with thirty-seven other professionals from our community, make up our great JDRF Utah Chapter Board of Directors.

As we move closer to a cure, we ask those now with us, and those who wish to join us to stay on course and help us in any way you can in reaching out to those affected by diabetes in our community. 

For more information on how to become involved or to attend a JDRF event in Utah or Idaho, please visit our website at: http://www.jdrf.org/utah or call (801) 530-0660