{"id":212,"date":"2013-01-21T22:05:49","date_gmt":"2013-01-22T02:05:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mikesmiles.org\/?p=212"},"modified":"2013-01-21T22:05:49","modified_gmt":"2013-01-22T02:05:49","slug":"national-day-of-service-a-plea-for-continued-change","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.mikesmiles.org\/?p=212","title":{"rendered":"National Day of Service – A Plea for Continued Change"},"content":{"rendered":"

Today was an incredible day. \u00a0Regardless of political persuasion, you have to have respect for the fact that the President of the United States was sworn into office today. (Ok, yes, he was sworn in yesterday in a private ceremony because the constitution says that the POTUS is to be sworn in on the 20th day of January.)<\/p>\n

And it was Martin\u00a0Luther\u00a0King Day. \u00a0A day to remember one of the most historic movements in United States History. \u00a0In a time when many of our\u00a0heroes\u00a0are falling down, it is wonderful to remember a man who made so much positive change in the world. \u00a0Dr. King once said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?'”<\/p>\n

And this is what has spurred the President’s National Day of Service. \u00a0Today is a day for people to come together and serve to help their friends, neighbors and community. \u00a0I urge you to take some time and give back. \u00a0Do it in a way that makes sense for you. \u00a0What do you care about? \u00a0Who is important in your life? \u00a0How can you make positive change in the your world? \u00a0Small gestures make big changes for the people you serve.<\/p>\n

It is no secret that my service lies with the JDRF. \u00a0You hear of what my family faces on a daily basis due to living with T1D in the family. \u00a0This is a 24\/7 disease with no breaks. \u00a0There is no time off. \u00a0Ok, maybe I received some time off during the artificial pancreas trial, but that is not a normal situation available to everyone, and if I am to share one statement from that experience? \u00a0“Every T1D deserves to get some time off!”<\/p>\n

\"header_logoT1\"<\/a><\/p>\n

So I pose the question, “Is a National Day<\/strong> of service enough?”<\/p>\n

I just am not sure that is the case.<\/p>\n

So, I will ride, and run to provide my service to the JDRF.<\/p>\n

And here are the events I will do:<\/p>\n

Tobacco Road Marathon, March 17th, North Carolina<\/strong>. \u00a0Donation: \u00a0http:\/\/jdrfevents.donordrive.com\/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.participant&participantID=15437<\/p>\n

April Fools Half Marathon, April 7th, Atlantic City, NJ<\/strong>. Donation: \u00a0http:\/\/jdrfevents.donordrive.com\/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.participant&participantID=15620<\/p>\n

Mike’s Miles 5k at Cedarvale Winery, April 20th, Logan Township<\/strong>, NJ (My wife organizes this one): \u00a0Registration: \u00a0https:\/\/runsignup.com\/Race\/NJ\/LoganTownship\/MikesMilesfortheJDRFCedarvaleWinery5K1MileFunRun<\/p>\n

JDRF Ride to Cure Diabetes, July 27th, Burlington, VT<\/strong>. \u00a0ride.jdrf.org<\/p>\n

JDRF Ride to Cure Diabetes, September 21, Nashville, TN<\/strong>. \u00a0ride.jdrf.org<\/p>\n

If you are able to give back to your community, I urge you to do so. \u00a0There are so many ways:<\/p>\n

1. Coach your kids ball team<\/p>\n

2. Serve at your church or synagogue<\/p>\n

3. Volunteer with a local non-profit you believe in<\/p>\n

If you are part of the T1D community, I believe you should volunteer with the JDRF. \u00a0Those of us living with T1D over the last 40 years have reaped the rewards of volunteers before us serving diligently and tirelessly with the JDRF. \u00a0Knowledge gained is from their sweat and determination to make it better for those that came after them. \u00a0They have succeeded.<\/p>\n

Find a way to use your skill sets that fit you. \u00a0The above list has developed from my skill sets. \u00a0I enjoy health and fitness activities. \u00a0I am a runner and cyclist because I need to focus on reducing my cardio vascular risk factors. \u00a0The JDRF needs coaches and volunteers to help with their endurance programs. \u00a0Good fit.<\/p>\n

If we, the T1D community, don’t pick up the slack and volunteer and fight for ourselves and our family, who will? \u00a0Why would anyone fight for us if we don’t fight for ourselves? \u00a0THERE IS NOT A CURE<\/strong>, and WE NEED YOUR HELP<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Today I am asking everyone in the T1D community, if you haven’t worked with the JDRF, to volunteer with the JDRF and help them make positive change for the world we live in. \u00a0Fight for yourself, and fight for your family.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Today was an incredible day. \u00a0Regardless of political persuasion, you have to have respect for the fact that the President of the United States was sworn into office today. (Ok, yes, he was sworn in yesterday in a private ceremony … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-212","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-ride-jdrf-org","category-research"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.mikesmiles.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/212","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.mikesmiles.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.mikesmiles.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.mikesmiles.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.mikesmiles.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=212"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/www.mikesmiles.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/212\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":216,"href":"http:\/\/www.mikesmiles.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/212\/revisions\/216"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.mikesmiles.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=212"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.mikesmiles.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=212"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.mikesmiles.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=212"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}