Wittenberg Students Lead Campus Initiative To Fight Diabetes
Wittenberg University students Jessica Mead and Clark Goodman learned of their diabetes diagnoses at very different points in their lives. Regardless, the shared experience of living with the disease has brought them together for a second straight year to organize a Swim for Diabetes fundraiser event at Wittenberg's HPER Center Natatorium.
Jessica Mead '12 and Clark Goodman '12
Springfield, Ohio — Wittenberg University students Jessica Mead, class of 2012 from Columbus, Ohio, and Clark Goodman, class of 2012 from Pittsburgh, Pa., learned of their diabetes diagnoses at very different points in their lives. Regardless, the shared experience of living with the disease has brought them together for a second straight year to organize a Swim for Diabetes fundraiser event at Wittenberg's HPER Center Natatorium.
Wittenberg's Swim for Diabetes, scheduled to run from 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 27, is part of the Central Ohio Diabetes Association's fundraising program, which has raised more than $4 million for youth programs, diabetes education, detection and outreach efforts since its introduction in 1975. Last year, swimmers raised more than $1,900 in the Springfield area, and Mead and Goodman hope to exceed that total in 2011.
There are more than 30 such events scheduled to take place throughout Central Ohio on March 6, which is the second day of Wittenberg's Spring Break. Since most of the students will not be on campus, Mead and Goodman scheduled their event for Feb. 27.
"We have both had our fair share of struggles with the disease," said Mead, who is majoring in political science and plans to attend law school in the future. "I like getting people involved in this event so that I can spread the word about life with diabetes. There are a lot of misconceptions about the disease."
Goodman, an English major with plans to pursue a career in media/film production, agreed that the "event is important because there are more people living with the disease than you realize. It's good to get to know them and to learn about how they live with the disease."
"Being on a college campus, we have been able to help each other get the right nutrition and even the right medicine sometimes," he added. "It's good to have that support network."
Mead, who started all 15 games for the Tiger women's lacrosse team in 2010, was diagnosed just four years ago, during a school exchange trip to France. All of what she describes as the "classic symptoms" landed her in the Intensive Care Unit of a hospital in Toulouse, a frightening situation for a high school student far from her family.
Goodman, a high school lacrosse goalkeeper while a student at Sewickley Academy, was diagnosed when he was three years old. Despite his young age, Goodman says he remembers the day vividly after he, too, showed telltale signs of the disease.
Both must monitor their physical condition closely, making their participation in rigorous athletic activities like lacrosse challenging at times. But diabetes does not stop them from living full and complete lives, a message that is important to convey through an event like Swim for Diabetes.
"The only difference between me and my teammates is that I always have something to think about in addition to the game," Mead said. "It is hard to sometimes have to take myself out of a game or a practice, but I have to know when to stop and take care of myself."
About 20 volunteers have agreed to help organize the event, but Mead and Goodman are still working to increase participation. E-mails have been distributed, a Facebook page has been established and announcements have been made to varsity athletics teams and Greek organizations in an effort to attract more swimmers and collect donations.
Written By: Ryan Maurer
Photo By: Erin Pence
010-11