Jared scores a goal for type 1 diabetes
Jared Banks bonded with his new mate Rod Kafer over rugby scores and BGLs when they met recently in Brisbane to hand over a special JDRF rugby jersey. Jared is a nine-year old “rugby nut” who has had type 1 diabetes for just 18 months. Rod, a former Wallaby who had a distinguished on-field rugby career, is now one of Fox Sports rugby personalities. He was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when he was 15.
Jared presented Rod with a special edition of the Pine Rivers Pumas rugby jersey that commemorates the 25th Anniversary of the club, as well as the team’s new partnership with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Although Jared’s diagnosis was a shock to his family, dad Jason, who is team coach, says his son is a bit of a larrikin who is coping with life with type 1 diabetes really well.
Rod has said that dealing with diabetes is a challenge that can be faced a number of ways. For him, “Sport was an outlet that allowed me to turn this challenge from a negative into a positive, which has shaped my life since the day I was diagnosed.” A wonderful role model for nine year old Jared.
The JDRF jerseys seem to have brought the Pumas some great luck so far, with the team logging a first game victory of 54 to nil. Rod was thrilled with his new JDRF Pine Rivers Pumas jersey and asked to be kept up to date with the team’s progress.
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Go Jared! Type 1 has never stopped my son Nathan from playing sport either. There are many well known sports people with Type 1 and we always told Nathan he could do anything that he put his mind to. He played rugby union right through school and rowed for his school too. Good luck with your rugby Jared, anything is possible!!
Hi Jared, I was diagnosed with Type 1 when I was back in QLD on holiday in 2009. I am 9 yeras old. I want to play rugby but as I'm in Bunbury WA there are not many rugby teams. My dad and me are going to the Australia v England match this saturday as my dad said that Marto from Fox Sports may be there as he was a great fullback. Hope that we can meet with Marto like you did with Rod. Good luck with your rugby as I will be playing one day.
Hi Jared. Our son was diaganosed three years ago with Type 1, it has not stopped him from his loved sports. He is a big AFL nut and plays two games every week with his club, he plays in Under 12 Div 2 and then backs up and helps the Div 3 team. He also does Nippers in summer. It proves you can do anything you put your mind to and with good support from family and friends can enjoy sport to the fullest. He went on a pump just over a year ago and it made a big difference with his life and coping with Diabetes.
Hope you win many more games.
For our son Luke