Diabetes doesn’t hold kids back

The Portneuf Medical Center hosted it’s 14th Annual Children’s Diabetes camp Wednesday.

The event brings together kids who share the same struggles with the disease.

When summer hits it’s time to send kids to camp. For some camp is a place to connect with others who are going through the same struggle.

The American Diabetes Associate reports one out of 400 children and adolescents have diabetes.

But that is not getting them down.

“There’s friends here, I have friends here,” said Colton Delaney, a camp member.

Staff took time to educate kids on living a healthy lifestyle. Kids spent most of the day exploring, eating and hula-hooping,while making sure to take breaks to check their blood sugar. Some kids come almost every year.

“I would say this is definitely an experience, because not only do you learn, your family and siblings learn, which is always something, cause your parents end up learning with you but sometimes your siblings are kinds put off to the side. So your siblings learn with you,” said Victoria Narvaez, a camp member.

Once camp counselor who used to attend the camp wants to give back to the event that helped her.

“To get kids involved in the community, and other people involved too, to be aware of diabetes and what it is just so kids aren’t scared of us and these kids aren’t ashamed of their disease so they just shine,” said Madison Thompson, a former camp member.

Children walked away with Portneuf Medical Center bags full of goodies. They also took friendship and knowledge with them.