Helping send kids to camp
Teen volunteers and raises funds to assist other youths
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 21/03/2022 (1360 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Most young people set up lemonade stands as a lark, but for Miles Dyer, it’s serious business.
Since 2017, Dyer has set up a lemonade stand multiple times every summer to raise money for Diabetes Canada’s Put a Squeeze on Diabetes campaign. Money raised during the campaign helps send children with Type 1 diabetes to camp.
Dyer has collected $10,000 through his efforts. The 15-year-old River Heights resident has a simple answer when asked what motivates him.
“I’ve gone to camp for a few years already,” he says, “and I just wanted to help raise money for diabetes camps so that other kids could go.”
Dyer was 12 months old when he was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. The disease requires constant vigilance, with Dyer monitoring his blood sugar levels and food intake throughout the day.
At night, when he is sleeping, a continuous glucose monitor sends updates to his mother’s phone every five minutes. The monitor sounds an alarm if his blood sugar is low.
“I’ve always had to monitor (my diabetes) in some way or form,” says Dyer, a Grade 9 student at Kelvin High School. “There’s no breaks.”
One of the closest things Dyer gets to a break is when he is at Camp Briardale. Located on a private island in Lake of the Woods, Camp Briardale is one of nine camps Diabetes Canada runs across the nation.
The camps provide young people with the opportunity to enjoy an authentic camp experience in a medically-accommodating environment, with a dedicated team of professionals.
“Being able to go to an overnight camp is not common for Type 1 diabetics,” Dyer says. “I like being able to hang out and talk with other kids around my age who also have Type 1. It’s fun doing outdoors stuff as well.”
In addition to raising money for camps, Dyer volunteers for Diabetes Canada by sharing his story at fundraising events.
“I enjoy knowing that my efforts that I put in will help make a difference in either sending kids to camp or (funding) diabetes research,” he says.
Last year, Diabetes Canada recognized Dyer’s many contributions by presenting him with its National Young Volunteer Award. When announcing the award, the organization noted that “Miles is an inspiration to Diabetes Canada staff and fellow volunteers alike.”
“It was really nice knowing that a lot of the volunteer work I’ve done has helped have big impacts on other kids with Type 1,” Dyer says of receiving the award.
Dyer’s mother, Liz, says she is amazed by his volunteer efforts.
“He’s an incredible kid,” she says. “He’s very passionate about everything he cares about. He has a sense of wanting things to be right in the world, I think.”
Dyer, who enjoys playing video games and hanging out with his friends in his free time, is looking forward to returning to Camp Briardale this summer. He’s also looking forward to continuing his volunteering with Diabetes Canada.
“I want to help other people who have diabetes and who are going through this struggle,” he says.
If you know a special volunteer, please contact aaron.epp@gmail.com.
Aaron Epp reports on business for the Free Press. After freelancing for the paper for a decade, he joined the staff full-time in 2024. He was previously the associate editor at Canadian Mennonite. Read more about Aaron.
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