13-year-old Brett Samson from Newfoundland has been living with diabetes and has raised over $40K to help others with diabetes.

At eight years of age, Brett was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, and since then, he has learned how to manage the disease every day. Brett spends a lot of time helping on his family’s small farm, where he grows vegetables and raises chickens and turkeys. Brett is helping others with diabetes through the money he is raising by selling his farm produce.

Brett says managing diabetes was tough at first, but his family worked together and learned how to handle it. Luckily, their insurance helped cover the cost of his medical supplies, which are critical for those with diabetes. A few years ago, he started “Brett’s Stand for Diabetes” to help others in Newfoundland and Labrador get the tools they need, like glucose monitors. He raises money by selling vegetables and running an annual charity bike ride and run, raising about $40,000 so far, and he is not done yet.

Through his project, Brett’s Stand for Diabetes, he’s done everything from farming to organizing charity bike rides. His family has supported him every step of the way, using the same homemade stand since the beginning. Brett’s group has also partnered with Glenn’s Helping Hand, a foundation that helps low-income people pay for diabetes care. His parents, Corey and Stephanie, also volunteer with the group. Stephanie says it feels good knowing every dollar raised helps someone get the supplies they need. Recently, thanks to their efforts and a partnership with Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services, about 100 diabetes kits were placed in schools to help kids who might forget their medical supplies at home, just like Brett sometimes does.

Source: Troy Turner, CBC