JDRF is the official charity partner of the Brisbane Heat throughout the duration of the league. This partnership has been instrumental in allowing JDRF to promote our new logo and the importance of type 1 diabetes research to a wider audience.

Many JDRF families have attended home games wearing Heat clothing in support of the team. Supporters have called this partnership a “great opportunity for all JDRF kids” and a “fantastic way to promote the JDRF brand and getting the support and awareness out there in the community”.

Children with type 1 diabetes supported by JDRF have also created paintings, drawings, and other creative works to show their appreciation for Brisbane Heat. The players have responded with a video showing their support for JDRF.

Want to show your support? Why don’t you:

1. Contact Brisbane Heat to let them know how much you appreciate their support of JDRF.
2. Encourage your children to create more artworks to send to the Heat players. You can send them to the Brisbane office (GPO Box 177, Brisbane QLD 4001).
3. Spread the word. Tell your friends and family either in person or online to watch the final two Heat games and keep an eye out for the JDRF logo.
4. JDRF volunteers will be ratting donation tins at the last home game on the 17th of January, and we need all the donations we can get! If you or someone you know is going to the game, please consider giving a donation to our volunteers.

Contact our Brisbane office (gharriss@jdrf.org.au or 07 3831 0544) for more information about how you can help!

We look forward to continuing this partnership after the 2011/12 season, and having further opportunities to promote JDRF and the work we do.

We’re still dedicated to improving the lives of the 122,300 Australians with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and our mission remains unchanged – to find a cure for type 1 diabetes and its complications through the support of research. We continue to increase support for research to improve management and control of T1D and delivering new and better treatments and prevention of the common complications of T1D.

This essential work of JDRF is now supported by a new logo, which will be adopted by JDRF chapters across the world. This new logo better demonstrates our energetic dedication to a better life for people with T1D and, ultimately a cure.

History

JDRF has used several logos over the years. Back in 1982, the logo of the Diabetes Youth Foundation, which later became JDRF, featured a map of Australia.

In 1987, the Diabetes Youth Foundation became JDF Australia, reflecting the affiliation with JDF International.

In the early 90s our logo featured three photos – a child, a researcher and a globe – to express our care for people, our belief in research and our global approach.

Our most recent logo features the colour blue – the colour for diabetes. We also started moving to using JDRF as a recognisable acronym.

What will this mean to you?

This new logo is a change in the way we portray ourselves to the world. We’re making a strong statement about moving forward and delivering improvements. We’re also making a distinct point about our connection to T1D, instead of “juvenile diabetes” which excludes the many adults living with T1D.

This logo is not a tangible change in what we do. Our mission is still to ultimately cure type 1 diabetes and its complications. The new logo will begin appearing on all our materials, but this will take some time. Please feel free to let us know when we’ve missed an old logo.

What are people saying about the new logo?

Co-founders and current JDRF supporters Clive and Geraldine Pack observed that the new logo shows JDRF’s distinctiveness – we’re the only national charity that focuses on type 1 diabetes.

The words ‘improving lives’ are especially important to the Pack family, who are keen to see the continued provision of practical support for people with T1D. JDRF offers this support in a variety of ways, including our Peer Support Program, government advocacy and online news and information.

Others have said the new logo expresses motion, driving JDRF forward. We’ve got somewhere very important to be – a future free of type 1 diabetes!

Tell us your thoughts about JDRF’s new logo – we would love to hear your opinion.

The tournament will feature Australian Grand Slam champions Samantha Stosur and Lleyton Hewitt. The rest outstanding lineup includes eight Grand Slamp champions, four current or former World No.1’s, and four previous Sydney winners – it is bound to be a star-studded event!

The Sydney International will run from January 8 to January 14 at the Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre. It is a great experience for the whole family. Tickets also include access to off-court entertainment at the Live Site and Kids Interactive Zone.

JDRF is looking for volunteers to help fundraise at the event (see Volunteer Information Pack). If you are interested in attending and supporting JDRF, please contact Helen Farrer, Development Manager NSW/ACT on: phone 02 9020 6110 or hfarrer@jdrf.org.au.

Julie set herself the goal of running the London Marathon before the age of 50, and to raise a total of $2800 to be split between JDRF UK and JDRF Australia – mission accomplished! Training for such a big marathon went for six months from October to March, and meant that Julie had 4am training starts in summer to beat the summer heat.

She had lots of support from family and friends. Friends sold Jelly Babies to work colleagues, and other friends sold old clothes and shoes on eBay with all proceeds going to JDRF.

The greatest challenge for Julie came towards the end – running the marathon two weeks after the death of her father. It was particularly challenging as he had planned to be on Tower Bridge with her son Luke during the marathon to look for Julie as she ran.

Since completing the London Marathon, Julie has herself been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes / LADA (Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults). She isn’t letting this slow her down though – she plans for her next challenge to be the Jump to Cure Diabetes, and then the City to Surf Perth Marathon!

Julie is one of our many inspiring Team Cure Diabetes fundraisers. To become one yourself, visit www.teamcurediabetes.org.au.

The JDRF community has helped us to support more than 60 Australian research projects in 2011. These projects have one important thing in common – they are all helping move us closer to a better life and a cure for people with type 1 diabetes.

All this, and more, could not happen without the support of you, and the rest of the JDRF community. You can help us achieve more essential type 1 diabetes research.

Our 2011 Christmas Appeal will be arriving in a selection of mailboxes over the next week. Fundraise with us this holiday season and know that your contribution counts. A special gift of $30, $50 or $100 or a pledge of a regular gift from you at this time will make all the difference.

1. Donate online for a quick and easy transaction.
2. Pledge a regular automatic monthly or quarterly gift.
3. Become part of Team Cure Diabetes and ask for donations in lieu of gifts this Christmas
4. Become part of the Danielle Alberti Legacy Society and remember JDRF in your will

You can make a difference this holiday season.

Imagine the feeling when you and your tandem instructor step out of the plane’s door 14,000 feet above the ground … and freefall for 60 seconds at 250km per hour … before pulling the parachute cord … and floating to the ground with views over the local area. Still not convinced? Have a look at Liz Daly who Jumped to Cure Diabetes in 2011 and see the thrill she experienced.

The Jump to Cure Diabetes is being held across Australia in March 2012. Take the ultimate challenge for yourself and type 1 diabetes.

• Jump to Cure Diabetes NSW will be held on Saturday 10th March 2012
• Jump to Cure Diabetes QLD will be held on Saturday 10th March 2012
• Jump to Cure Diabetes ACT will be held on Saturday 10th March 2012
• Jump to Cure Diabetes SA will be held on Saturday 24th March 2012
• Jump to Cure Diabetes VIC will be held on Saturday 24th March 2012
• Jump to Cure Diabetes WA will be held on Saturday 31st March 2012

Numbers are limited so register today! For more information, call 1300 363 126 or see Team Cure Diabetes.

Are you ready to jump?

Since 1986 when her son Andrew was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, Gwennyth has tirelessly assisted JDRF in pursuing our vision of a world without type 1 diabetes and has helped raise vital funds and awareness for diabetes research. With over 122,000 Australians currently living with the disease and more diagnosed every day, Gwennyth’s impact has and will affect past, present and future generations.

In the past 25 years, Gwennyth has been involved in every aspect of JDRF including: management of people and projects; running fundraising and awareness raising events; and creating programs that supported the type 1 diabetes community from the point of diagnosis. Gwennyth has volunteered up to 35 hours a week for 25 years with the consistency of a staff member and the determination of a passionate volunteer.

Forging strong relationships through her kindness and generosity of spirit, Gwennyth has been able to work with the community, not-for-profits and the education system to make a huge difference for the type 1 diabetes community in Victoria and across Australia.

JDRF CEO Mike Wilson congratulates Gwennyth on her achievement.

“Gwennyth embodies what JDRF has always been about – the type 1 community coming together to raise funds and awareness for diabetes research. Her passion and dedication is inspiring to the Foundation, to staff, to other volunteers, and to the community. I can think of no more deserving finalist.”

Gwennyth recognises the important role that JDRF volunteers play in improving lives and finding a cure.

“I wish to dedicate my finalist certificate to all my fellow volunteers, no matter how small their input, as it all contributes to the overall success of our fundraising & awareness campaign. There is much that I could not do, if it were not for the sum of the small contributions. So please all continue with your efforts, because from little things, big things grow.”

If you are interested in volunteering with JDRF, please contact your local office.

Christmas and Holiday Cards – Send a traditional message with one of the many designs available. Charity Greeting Cards will donate 40cents from each card ordered + an additional 5% if you place your order by 26th November!

Christmas E-Cards – E-Cards are a fun and interactive, as well as effective and efficient way to quickly get your message out to your clients, family or friends Charity Greeting Cards will donate 20% of each order placed to JDRF.

Christmas Hampers – Choose from a selection of gourmet gift hampers to delight your customers, friends and family. Charity Greeting Cards will donate 10% of each order placed to JDRF.

Donations in lieu of gifts – ask your friends and family to give the gift of research this year by donating to JDRF on your behalf.

Support JDRF this festive season and give the gift of diabetes research. To order online, download an order form, or set up your donation page, simply visit our community fundraising page: Team Cure Diabetes.

Don’t forget that there are many other ways you can fundraise for JDRF throughout the year – at your work, with your friends and family, and within your community. For more information and suggestions of how you can contribute, please contact the Community Fundraising Manager at teamcurediabetes@jdrf.org.au.

InnoCentive finds new ways to solve technological and scientific problems using crowdsourcing and open innovation. The idea is to use the web to build connections between R&D problems or ‘Challenges’ and ‘Solvers’, who are creative people that might work or study in different industries or fields, or perhaps in other countries.

The goal of the JDRF InnoCentive Challenge is a glucose responsive insulin drug that would release insulin in response to changes in blood glucose levels. This type of drug would revolutionise the management of type 1 diabetes, releasing kids and adults from their daily regime of multiple injections and fingerpricks.

JDRF Australia CEO Mike Wilson said he hoped this initiative would energise the search for new treatments for people with type 1 diabetes.

“Huge strides have been made in recent years in diabetes research but we need to be daring and embrace interesting new approaches if we’re serious about delivering a better life for people with type 1 diabetes.”

“JDRF has been part of every major research breakthrough achieved so far in the field of type 1 diabetes research and our hope is that this Challenge could prompt more breakthroughs.”

“Entry is open to thinkers from across the world and across different industries. Creative Australians, I urge you to step up.”

President and CEO of InnoCentive Dwayne Spradlin said JDRF is an organisation that recognises the importance of innovation in the healthcare industry. “We are happy to be included in the process of finding a new way to enhance the quality of life for patients while helping them better manage their disease.”

Other organisations that have partnered with InnoCentive include Eli Lilly, Life Technologies, NASA, nature.com, Popular Science, Procter & Gamble, Roche, Rockefeller Foundation, and The Economist. For more information, visit www.innocentive.com.

This Report aims to capture the spirit of hope for a cure for type 1 diabetes as well as the full range of JDRF’s activities.

A huge thank you to the many people who made important contributions.

In particular, JDRF sends special thanks to the five families who were highlighted this year because their stories illustrated how JDRF’s mission comes to life: the Goedhardts, the Jeffrees, the McIntyres, the Appletons and the Harrigans.

If you have any questions about this report or you would like to request a hard copy, please contact JDRF on 02 9966 0400.