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Griswold teens raise funds for baby w/diabetes

News

November 15th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Several fundraisers in Griswold this coming week will help a 2-year-old who was diagnosed with Type I diabetes earlier this year. The Daily NonPareil reports Markus Palmer of Griswold was diagnosed at 18 months and has been to the hospital repeatedly at a young age. His body does not produce insulin, a hormone needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into the energy the body uses for daily life.

Griswold Community School District students are organizing Hoops 4 Hounds: A Fight Against Type I Diabetes beginning Monday for this year’s Iowa Pride Challenge, a statewide community service initiative in its fifth year. Griswold has participated in the challenge the past two years, winning awards for projects both times and taking home the state’s top award last year. This year, the school district’s modern issues classes and girls basketball team are working to raise money for Markus to buy a diabetic alert dog.

A Press Release distributed by the Griswold School Districts says “Since Markus is too young to know when his blood sugar is too low or too high, a diabetic alert dog can alert his parents. The dog will be purchased through Heads Up Hounds, an organization in Omaha that trains rescue dogs to become service dogs.”

The school fundraisers will conclude Friday (Nov. 21st) with a Pride Challenge basketball game. The Griswold Tigers will host the Stanton Viqueens in a girls varsity and junior varsity doubleheader beginning at 6 p.m. at Griswold High School, 20 Madison St. Team Markus T-shirts and bracelets will be on sale for the game. They can be purchased by calling the Griswold High School main office at (712) 778-2152.