Bluefusion Entertainment & Cherry Blonde Productions, LLC have teamed up with the local music community to host Shamrockin’ for JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation), Friday, March 18, 2016, 8 p.m. to midnight, in “The Venue” at Bluefusion.
Shamrockin’ for JDRF is a fundraiser to benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. The event will feature an evening of live music with local cover bands, Cherry Blonde and Sneaky Pete & The Players. Both bands are donating their services for the fundraising event, with sound and lights courtesy of JCR Studios.
According to organizers, the goal of the event is to raise money and awareness to help find a cure for type one diabetes. It is also being billed as one of the area’s biggest St. Paddy’s celebrations, with live music, green beer, and prizes, all for a great cause. There will be a $5 cover at the door and donation jars on each table, if people are inclined to give more. All proceeds for the event will be donated to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
Event organizer Wayne Rowe, who also co-fronts the band Cherry Blonde, put this event together on behalf of his daughter Reagan, who on February 17, 2012, joined the nearly 3 million Americans living with type one, or juvenile onset diabetes.
The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation reports more than 15,000 children and 15,000 adults annually—approximately 80 people per day—are diagnosed with type one diabetes in the U.S.
Because of the prevalence of type two diabetes, Rowe believes education about the differences between type 1 and type 2 is paramount.
“There is a big misnomer that type two and type one diabetes are similar conditions. That could not be further from the truth,” said Rowe. “Type one diabetes is an auto-immune disorder in which white blood cells attack and destroy islet cells in the pancreas,” (the cells that produce insulin in healthy people). “With type two diabetes, your body produces insulin, but does not use insulin properly.”
Because islet cells are destroyed in type 1 diabetics, all type 1 diabetic patients are completely dependent upon insulin therapy to survive.
“I can tell you, as parents of a child with type one diabetes, it is a constant worry for my wife and I, a constant battle, and a lot of sleepless nights. I am so thankful for the support team Reagan has,” said Rowe.
“We are proud of her every day. She has been so strong and resolute with her condition,” Rowe said of his ten-year-old daughter, who was recently chosen as one of sixteen youth across central Ohio to serve as a 2016 JDRF Ambassador. She will also help kick-off the Shamrockin for JDRF event.
None of this would have been possible without the support of the music community, Rowe explained.
“The members of Sneaky Pete & The Players, my band mates in Cherry Blonde, Bryan Jester from JCR Studios, and the staff of Bluefusion Entertainment have my undying gratitude for giving up their Friday evening to share their talents to help raise funds for juvenile diabetes research,” said Rowe, who hopes this will become an annual event and continue to grow.
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