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The Power of Three
They’re helping diabetics, teaching sports
to the disabled, and showing ex-cons a
new way to live
P H O T O G R A P H E D B Y R U D Y A R C H U L E TA / R E D U X
readersdigest.com 2/09 15
enough, he had no health insurance. online children’s forums together
After a month of feeling sucker most evenings. “Kody gets so
punched, Thomas decided he’d excited, writing to kids from all
better find a way to fight back. over,” says Swencki, 36, who has
He packed up his car and left become one of the site’s volunteer
Canton, Michigan, for New York. administrators. “They know what
He found a sublet, got a job waiting he’s going through, so he doesn’t
tables, nicknamed himself the feel alone.”
Diabetic Rockstar, and created Kody is anything but alone:
diabeticrockstar.com, a free online Diabetes is now the seventh leading
community for diabetics and their cause of death in the United States,
loved ones—a place where over with 24 million diagnosed cases.
1,100 people share personal stories, And more people are being diag-
information, and resources. nosed at younger ages.
Jason Swencki is a software These days, Thomas’s main focus
developer whose son, Kody, was is his charity, Fight It, which provides
diagnosed with type 1 diabetes medications and supplies to people—
at age six. Father and son visit the 225 to date—who can’t afford a dia-
16 readersdigest.com 2/09
betic’s considerable expenses ($4,174 Rockstar Carnival cruise in the
per year on average). “There’s the Caribbean.
father of three whose oldest daughter Even with a staff of 22 volunteers,
is diabetic. He works two jobs to pay Thomas often devotes up to 50
for testing strips, and he’s having hours a week to his cause, while
trouble putting food on the table,” still holding down his full-time
Thomas says. “Because of testing job waiting tables. “Of the diabetes
strips? C’mon, that’s not right.” charities out there, most are putting
Fight-it.org has raised about money into finding a cure,” says
$23,000—in products (through Bentley Gubar, 48, one of Rockstar’s
partnerships with companies like original members, who also has
American Diabetes Wholesale type 1 diabetes. “But Chris is the
and 77 Canada Pharmacy) and in only person I know saying people
cash (through individual donations need help now.” Sarah Saffian
and proceeds from Fight It/Rock-
Tell us how you or someone you know
star clothing, wristbands, and rock is making it matter, and your story may
concerts). In May, Thomas will appear here. Go to readersdigest.com/
hold the first annual Diabetic makeitmatter.
C O U R T E S Y J U A N I TA E D R I N G T O N - G R A N T
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