Bradford Regional Medical Center’s Center for Diabetes and
Nutrition Education will hold a unique bowling fundraiser that aims
to educate as well as entertain.
The first Strike Out Diabetes/Spare a Life Bowling Fundraiser
will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. April 21 at Byllye Lanes, 290 Seaward
Ave. Extension in Bradford. A vendor fair will be held from 1 to 2
p.m., and cosmic bowling, involving black lights, neon lights,
music, prize giveaways and food, will be held from 2 to 4 p.m.
During the vendor fair, there will also be a diabetes education
program presented by dietitians and the staff at the Diabetes
Center on diabetes prevention, identifying risk factors for
diabetes and nutritional advice such as portion sizes.
“We thought this was a fun way to bring (diabetes) awareness to
the children,” Stacia Nolder, RN, CDE, CPT, coordinator for BRMC’s
Center for Diabetes, said Thursday. “It’s a family thing. There
will be pharmaceutical vendors and educational giveaways.”
“Because the vendors will be there, it’s a little different than
a normal bowling fundraiser,” said Kimberly Maben, director of the
Communications Department for BRMC.
Dina Jones, office manager for the CDNE, said they want to make
the event successful to continue it and continue to bring diabetes
awareness to the public.
“If it’s successful, we hope to do it annually,” Nolder said.
“We hope people from the community the hospital serves comes out to
support this event … and not just the Bradford area. We serve a lot
of communities around here. We’ve served people in Potter County
and close by in New York.”
Nolder said the bowling alley often serves snacks such as pizza
that are not so healthy, but during the event, they will be serving
healthy, yet tasty snacks.
“We’ll be promoting healthy living,” Jones said.
Tickets are only available by pre-sale and can be purchased at
the Diabetes Center, 199 Pleasant St.; Bradford Hospital
Foundation, 20 School St.; BRMC Cafeteria, 116 Interstate Parkway;
and BRMC’s HeartStrings Gift Shop, the new Outpatient Services
Center lobby at BRMC.
The price for each ticket includes two games of bowling, shoe
rental, diabetes education, chance for prizes, snacks and
beverages. There is a limit of 120 tickets, which need to be
purchased and prepaid by Thursday. Eighty non-bowler tickets are
available for a lower price. The price for non-bowler tickets also
includes food.
“People are also encouraged to make a donation if they would
like,” said Cindy Simms, RN.
Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult, and all
proceeds benefit the Center for Diabetes and Nutrition Education
Memorial Fund through the Bradford Hospital Foundation. The fund
was established by Jones and Nolder in October 2005 to promote
early recognition and treatment of diabetes and pre-diabetes
through health education and wellness programs in the BRMC
treatment service area.
Nolder said the fund will help people who can’t afford diabetes
medication, supplies or services not covered by insurance.
Donations to the fund also assist with purchasing equipment,
materials and philanthropic support as needed and identified by the
Diabetes Center’s staff for medication or other diabetic supplies
or programs to the uninsured or underinsured community members in
BRMC’s service area.
The Center for Diabetes and Nutrition Education, an American
Diabetes Association recognized program, sees any type of diabetic
problem and delivers basic to advanced treatment and advanced
diabetes therapy. The CDNE also does insulin pumps and checks blood
patterns to recommend what medication is best for the doctors to
prescribe to patients with elevated or low blood sugar.
The staff is trained to recognize and diagnosis other problems
like renal disease, heart issues or obese children who may face
diabetic problems in the future. They also provide education to
patients about diabetes and other disorders requiring nutritional
intervention.
Anyone seeking more information about the fundraiser may contact
the Diabetes Center. To make a donation to the Diabetes Center
Fund, contact the Foundation at 20 School St., call or access its
online giving option by logging onto BRMC’s Web site.
