In an instant, everything changed for Bill Gregory.
After receiving news that his grandson had been diagnosed with diabetes, a whirlwind of choices – both negative and positive – helped create the man who now leads the fundraising efforts for the Canadian Diabetes Association.
Gregory, who told his story to the Fenwick Lions Friday night on National Diabetes Day, quit his job and quickly became what he describes as a “burden” to his family.
“It was all about me,” he admitted. “I didn’t want my life to be like that after working so hard. And I couldn’t comprehend how this could happen to my grandson.”
He became a backseat driver, calling to check-in and see what every blood reading said, eventually becoming reliant on drinking to numb the confusion and anger.
That was the breaking point.
“I was drinking in my bedroom on a nice sunny day when my daughter came in. She confronted me why I wasn’t outside playing with my grandson,” he said. “I went outside and for the first time, I saw him as my grandson rather than a diabetic.”
That day changed everything.
Rather than turning away and running, Gregory decided to make an impact on not only the life of his grandson, but the millions of Canadians going through the same situation.
Diabetes is a chronic, often debilitating and sometimes fatal disease affecting over nine million Canadians, in which the body either cannot produce insulin or cannot properly use the insulin it produces. Insulin controls the amount of glucose in the blood. Diabetes leads to high levels of glucose in the blood, which can damage organs, blood vessels and nerves. The body needs insulin to use glucose as an energy source.
With more than 20 people being newly diagnosed with the disease every hour of every day, chances of it hitting home are high.
“Don’t think a doctor is going to save you – it’s your disease and that’s it. There are people to help you along the way, but it’s a life changer.”
With funding essential to progression, Gregory received a helping hand from the Fabulous Fenwick Lions in the form of a $6,000 donation.
Those dollars, raised during this years Biketoberfest, will cover a broad range of research specialities, with the key aspects of every study to improve the quality of life of people living with diabetes and to find a cure.
For more information, visit www.diabetes.ca.
