Ball raises money for diabetic children

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Jun 1, 2008 | by LINDA NAVARRO

Leigh MacHaffie is a tiny, energetic woman with hundreds of little ones she calls "my kids."

She's the first person children and their families see when there's a diagnosis of diabetes at Memorial Hospital for Children. And she's there for them from then on.

Called "our family's guardian angel" by one family, MacHaffie was the "Living and Giving Award Recipient" at the 2008 Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Promise Ball May 9 at The Broadmoor.

"I do what I do because of you," she told the families and children, explaining to all the attendees, "My mission is to give them the best possible start to their life with diabetes. I feel that many of the kids are like my own."

MacHaffie is the Diabetes Nurse Educator at the children's hospital, has an adult practice, and volunteers with the indigent who have diabetes.

Onstage with evening cochairs Andi Chernushin and Michelle Talarico and Dr. Michael Barber, whose daughter has diabetes, MacHaffie was brought to tears by a tribute video featuring her kids and their families.

Young singers from Colorado Springs Conservatory together with the Youth Ambassadors, kids with diabetes, serenaded MacHaffie and the ambassadors with "Promise Me" shirts one by one carried roses to the woman who has been a big part of their lives. "Promise Me?" Their words said it all about the focus of the evening: "Promise You'll Remember Me."

By evening's end the 325 attendees had helped raise more than $375,000 for JDRF research. Local JDRF branch manager Lynn Page talked with Troy and Amanda Calhoun, saying she couldn't have been happier with the event's outcome.

The presenting sponsor was GE Johnson Construction. Among the table sponsors were Clay and Karen Sorrick, Bob and Leslie Penkhus, Angel's Nest, The Broadmoor, Dr. and Mrs. Tom Crepps, El Pomar Foundation, Mr. and Mrs. Neill Erdossy, Foremost Insurance/Randy Finger, Kaiser Permanente, Jay and Lisa Miller, Stinton Ranch and University of the Rockies.

Putting together the event were co-chairs Chernushin and Talarico, Angie Barber, Connie Baumgart, Ginger Beres, Sandra Bird, Pam Burnelis, Amanda Calhoun, Peggy Campbell, Kristen Christy, Trivian Dickard, Sue Finger, Jennifer Fischer, Karen Garcia, Kimberly Hessler, Leslie Hicks, Andrea Houk, Amy Hunter, Lisa Ingram, Jill Kahkoska, Gloria and Bill Layton, Karen Lindroth Yates, Tracy McLaughlin, Wendy Pearce Nelson, Doreen Severson, Bob Smith, Melissa Svenby, Kathy Winder and Elizabeth Wright.

The annual Walk to Cure Diabetes will be Sept. 13 in America the Beautiful Park.

BMW Ultimate Drive

It was a great opportunity to zip around in a sleek new BMW, just pretending.

Hundreds of people did just that May 8, raising $20,000 during Phil Winslow BMW's 12th Annual BMW Ultimate Drive supporting the Colorado Springs Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Greg Lewis of the dealership reported that the test-drive day has raised more than $60,000 during the past five years. The Winslow dealership matches the donations from BMW.

Honored was local Komen volunteer Linda Boettcher, who signed the BMW Signature Car, adding her autograph to those of hundreds of breast cancer survivors, friends and families and volunteers nationwide who participated in the Ultimate Drive program over the past year.

Past local heroes recognized were Mitzi Fiedler, Peggy Thomas, Kathy Fiorillo (posthumously) and Patty Borish.

Farmers' Heroes for Babies

Nationwide, Farmers Insurance Group agents are busy raising more than $2 million for March of Dimes research and education to help moms carry babies to full term and to deliver healthy babies.

Kicking off the third year of participation, Southern Colorado agents Matt Roselle, Rick Bennight, Kevin Schriver and J.T. Peterson held a Putts for Preemies Golf Tournament at The Broadmoor on May 12 and are adding $15,000-$20,000 to this year's national total.

"Our golf tournament has really become a community high point," said Bennight, Farmers District Manager in Colorado Springs.

Next up is "Be a Hero for Babies Day" on Tuesday. Last year, Farmers raised $2.7 million in a historic one-day fundraising effort, exceeding its $2 million goal. Again this year Farmers is matching all donations made on marchofdimes.com/farmers up to $250,000.

More than half a million babies are born prematurely each year. According to the March of Dimes, babies born even a few weeks premature (between 34 and 36 weeks) are six times more likely to die during their first week of life. They also have a greater likelihood of developing breathing problems, feeding difficulties, temperature instability, jaundice and to have less mature brain development than full-term babies.

Over the past 10 years, Farmers has raised $12 million for March of Dimes.

Send information about nonprofit

events and fundraisers to linda.navarro@gazette.com or mail to Linda

Navarro, P.O. Box 1779, Colorado

Springs 80901.