Spare a Rose on Valentine's Day and Save a Child

Diabetes Online Community Encourages Public to Support International Diabetes Federation's
Life for a Child Program

PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 29, 2015 /CNW/ -- One dozen roses may be one of the most sought-after gifts on Valentine's Day, but in the diabetes community, 11 roses mean so much more. 

The Diabetes Online Community (DOC) is encouraging people to buy one less rose this Valentine's Day and donate the value of that flower to the annual Spare a Rose, Save a Child initiative.  Now in its third year, Spare a Rose, Save a Child – initiated by the Partnering for Diabetes Change Coalition (P4DC) – supports the International Diabetes Federation's (IDF) Life for a Child program, which provides life-saving diabetes supplies to children in developing countries. 

In 2014, the Spare a Rose, Save a Child initiative raised more than $27,000.  For 2015, the DOC is raising the bar with the goal to collect $50,000, which will save 700 more children.

"Last year, the generous support from the Diabetes Online Community allowed the IDF to help more than 400 children living with diabetes – but there are still thousands more in need," said Kerri Sparling, of Six Until Me blog and P4DC founding member.  "There is so much that can be done to join this cause, because even just a little help can go a long way for these children.  We can truly change the world, just one rose at a time."

Spare a Rose, Save a Child will run from February 1-14, 2015. Leading up to and during that time, members of the DOC will feature the Spare a Rose, Save a Child banner ad on their respective websites in addition to blogging, tweeting (#SpareARose), and posting on Facebook in an effort to raise money and awareness for this important cause.  

According to the IDF, there are more than 497,000 children with Type 1 diabetes under the age of 15. For those children in developing countries, the lack of access to insulin, monitoring equipment, and expert care can be life-threatening.   In fact, in some parts of the world, the estimated life expectancy of a child who has developed diabetes could be less than a year.  The IDF's Life for a Child program works hard to change that through this sustainable and innovative support program where individuals, families, and organizations contribute monetary or in-kind donations that help more than 12,000 children living with diabetes in 43 countries.

"The Spare a Rose fundraiser allows you to impress your loved one this Valentine's Day, by doing something simple to help children with serious need throughout the world," said Bennet Dunlap, of Your Diabetes May Vary blog and P4DC founding member.

Any member of the online community wanting to promote Spare a Rose, Save a Child can download the image to host on their site as well. Links to download the banner ad can be found at www.SpareARose.org.

To "spare a rose" (or more) and make a donation directly to the Life for a Child program, please visit www.SpareARose.org.

About Spare a Rose, Save a Child

Spare a Rose, Save a Child is an online effort that raises money and awareness for IDF's Life for a Child program, which provides life-saving diabetes supplies to children in developing countries. Initiated by a group of members from the Diabetes Online Community in 2013, the idea behind this effort is simple: people are encouraged take the typical "dozen roses," so popular on Valentine's Day, and donate the value of one rose to spare the life of a child.

About Life for a Child

The International Diabetes Federation Life for a Child program was established in 2000 with support from the Australian Diabetes Council and HOPE worldwide. It is an innovative and sustainable support program in which individuals, families and organizations contribute monetary or in-kind donations to help children with diabetes in developing countries. www.idf.org/lifeforachild.

About P4DC

Partnering for Diabetes Change (P4DC) is a coalition of people living with diabetes and of industry representatives who seek to address unmet needs in diabetes. P4DC aims to validate the role of peer support in diabetes management, minimize the stigma of diabetes, and ultimately support underserved communities. It was formed in January 2013.

Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150128/171925LOGO

SOURCE Partnering for Diabetes Change (P4DC)