My son, Eldest, was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes on 12/13/14! We were in total shock and disbelief from this life altering news. We spent 4 long educationally intensive days in the PICU to learn how to care for him. Now after living with this disease for over a year I am thrilled to share with you how one company has created a way to help others.
Medtronic Philanthropy created the Bakken Invitation program to connect and celebrate people who, with the help of medical technology, have overcome health challenges and now selflessly give back to their communities. This program is not limited to diabetes but to anyone who has had a health issue which has made them realize how short life can be but how rewarding life is when you “LIVE ON. GIVE ON.”
The 2015 Bakken Invitation Award honors 12 people from 11 countries, all whom use their “extra life” to serve others. It just so happens that three of the 2015 Bakken Invitation Award honorees also have Type 1 Diabetes. This just goes to show that Type 1 Diabetes is a global issue, not just one in the US.
I hope you NEVER need a life-altering moment to start giving back. I can also honestly say I totally understand how life and circumstances can be totally overwhelming. Since Eldest is a T1D there are many ways to raise funds and awareness. We have not been able to get to that point but hope to soon. We are on a daily battle with Type 1 Diabetes which means 24/7 care, blood glucose checks even in the middle of the night, carb counting for EVERY item that he eats. Now enter puberty and the fun really begins as hormones start to fight the insulin and what ratios worked last month are now adjusted to a level that works this month! I would definitely encourage you to support a cause NOW rather than wait till you am in the thick of battle with a disease you never wanted or imagined would affect your life.
The program was designed to highlight how when people have access to quality healthcare, they not only can successfully manage their own health condition, they can use their “extra life” to help others. We know medical technology can dramatically improve the life of one person. The Bakken Invitation Award Honorees demonstrate that you can have social impact that reaches beyond just that person.
Leave a Comment & Enter to win a $100 Visa card:
Why do you give back to your community? If you don’t, perhaps you will be inspired by one of the 2015 honorees! Please let me know in the comment section if you give back to your community and if you live with medical technology. The audience member who receives the gift card will use the money to do something good in his or her own community. The winner is free to choose how the money is spent, but it should benefit the community in some way.
- Leave a comment below with your email (email is only seen by me) be sure to mention what you would do with the $100 and/or what medical technology you use.
- Must be over 18 and live in the U.S.
- Winner will be selected March 18th
- Linqia will mail the gift cards to winners within 7 business days of campaign end.
I can’t do a whole lot due to my disability but I do bake cakes and cookies and such and take it down to my senior neighbors, I know it’s not much but I try to help a little
That’s a great way to give back and serve other’s!
Congrats to the 2015 Honorees so inspiring! I would love to win $100 we can help more families. My family and I make foodie bags to pass out to the homeless in our community. I have use a Diabeties machine to manage my sugar levels.
I help by sharing with my children how important service can be. This year my daughter and I made some hats for a non-profit for babies. Mothers who are struggling. That inspired my son’s to learn to knit, then they made some too. That turned into scarfs for homeless. Also I try and raise awareness for animals. My family raised awareness and helped adopt a Sea Turtle named Luna. That was an awesome accomplishment for our family because of the money we raised. I think I give back by sharing with my children that when they are in the serve of their fellow man they are in the service of Heavenly Father. No act of service is too small, in life. I really do feel that the entire world could help just by being kind to one another, no matter what are beliefs. Thank you for a chance to win! Since this is all about service if we win I will have my children decide how they want to use this money to help others. My daughter has wanted to save a polar bear that’s $40 to do and the rest we could use in small acts like hygiene bags for the shelter. But if we won I would want to give it back, having our family decide where this money could go.
What an incredible giveaway! I am part of a group of struggling homeschooling families and I would love to bless them by buying items on their wishlists/supplies/curriculum. My daughter mentioned she would love to buy books for to give local kids in our community. Thank you for the chance to win!
Great ideas for all sorts of ways to serve. Thanks for sharing Kris!
I love donating and often donate food items or clothing items in the winter like gloves and hats. I would use the $100 to buy food and donate to a local shelter for those that need it.
Sheila Vasconcellos’s story inspires me because I have a few family members with diabetes. I know that it’s a tough illness, but she keeps fighting and giving back! That is truly awesome to me!
I really enjoy giving back as much as I can. My mom and I help donate clothes and furniture to our local Kidney Foundation. We also send monthly donations to help support a few great charities we believe strongly in.
I do not live with medical technology. Twinkle VanFleet is an inspiration to me. She turns her experiences of fighting disease into opportunities of helping and supporting needed people. I give back by donating to local shelters and food banks.
tcarolinep at gmail dot com
I contribute to my community by donating to our food bank and hospices. I also try to feed the homeless, when I can. I do it to try to alleviate the suffering of so many in this country nowadays. Medical technology saved my husbands life and he is still with me today. Thank you for the chance. jslbrown2009 at aol dot com
We give back by donating unneeded items we no longer use. And also by donating food to local food pantries. No I don’t live with any medical technology.
Great ideas. Seems like shelter’s and food pantries are always needing supplies.
Monthly donations are the lifeblood of many organizations. Thanks for your help.
Our local food banks always seem low on food. Thanks for helping.
Many people often forget about the work of Hospice until they need them. Thanks for helping to support them and homeless in America.
Much better to donate items then to put them in the trash. I see so many good things that hit the trash trucks instead of being donated to those who could really benefit from it.
I forgot to mention that I do not use medical technology in my previous comment. Thank you!
I donate clothes to Hearts for the Homeless. They have bins locate in different parts of the community for You to donate old clothes. They resell the clothes for a dollar or two.
I give back by volunteering or donating whenever possible. These stories all inspiring. Every little bit helps
l am inspired by Andrea Volfova who is from the Prague, Czech Republic and has had cardiovascular disease and she says: CHOOSE LOVE AND COMPASSION, EVERY SINGLE TIME. How awesome! My brother also has a congenital heart defect and if it was not for modern medical technology he would not be here today!
And I give back to my community by Volunteering at the Food Banks and helping out during the food drives and I would donate this money to my local food bank.
We donate to the local food bank and I would probably use it for diapers and wipes. Thanks so much for the chance!
I am a counselor and I volunteer my professional services to a community women’s center that offers educational workshops, English classes and counseling services. They are located in a Catholic Charities building which makes all kinds of needed services very accessible to the women in the urban community. I used to intern there during my graduate studies and I love it there so much I have volunteered there.
Diana C
[email protected] I would use it towards my test strips! insurance only covers a few a month!
This is wonderful! Honestly I have always taught my kids to give back to our surrounding community. I would buy some essentials for our local homeless and buy some baby diapers and wipes for our baby that is due in early August. Thank you for the chance!!
Their stories are inspiring and motivating. We donate food and toys to our residents in need program through our school but we could and should be doing more.
I give out to my community my free tax services every year! I would love to fill up my tank with gas using my gift card and explore and learn more about my city
I would use this toward my insurance deductible
I might use the prize to update my supplements from the local co-op.
I do nearly all of my volunteer work through my church. There’s always a family that needs food or clothing assistance, fundraising to be done or work to do at church. There aren’t as many people willing to help there as there used to be.
I use a c-pap machine at home. I would probably use the prize for groceries.
I donate all of my family’s unwanted clothing, toys, and household items to our local rescue ministry several times a year.
I could use it towards my co payments
My eldest son has diabetics and I know how you feel I too have the same feelings Love to give back to the same community to raise awareness
I would use it to buy some new sensory items for my son.
Thank you for all you do
i do not live with any devices for health&i would take the money &BUY MEDICINE FOR A INJURY I HAVE TO LIVE WITH……
We give back to our community because we want to share CHRIST’s love with others. If I win, the gift card would be used for the Food Ministry from our Church. Juan Carlos Hernández Corredera’s story is inspiring. Thanks for the chance to win, GOD bless.
I would use this towards birthday gifts, household items
we’re always running food and clothes drives at our church, would use it for gas and groceries
I would probably use it towards gas or groceries
i donate a bunch of clothes and food to my local shelter
I would use the $100 to donate to others. I would use coupons and sales to stretch that money and buy as much food and other items like toothbrushes that I could.
I would give the card to my mother to use on whatever she would want.
I am so inspired by Lisa Visser’s story, she is amazing and I love that she gives back to the homeless. I give back to the community by donating to local charity organizations and also to local animal shelters. If I won this one I would help someone in need.
I give back where I can because of the love of Jesus. I would use the gift card to get a few things my kiddos need.
Oh just like your son, my little brother was diagnosed at age 9. Just looking at your pictures and hearing your story, reminds me so much of what we went through with him. He is now in his 30’s and has the insulin pump. It works wonderful! It has given him a whole new lease on life. Medical technology has helped our family so much. I am not sure what age they will do the insulin pump, but it really has given my brother so much freedom. He still has to watch his counts and be careful…but he loves it. I would use the giftcard to help when my brother does his next fund raiser! I know how hard it is from experience…but I promise it does get better! My brother is in his 30’s now and it has not slowed him down one bit!
I give back by volunteering and donating to local shelters and organizations. It’s the right thing to do!
actually started a “Tents for the Homeless” initiative last year….and with the help from donors through my Church (St. Bernadette’s) we were able to supply about 40 tents for the homeless in our area (Buffalo, NY – the 3rd poorest city in the country), this year and last. I started it (finally) because of a homeless man who died wandering in our WNY “Snowvember” storm last year (we got 7 feet of snow!). I mentioned to my Priest that I felt bad that I hadn’t begun this endeavor when God first put it on my heart a few years ago. My Priest felt called to help and immediately let me put a notice in the bulletin and we collected about $900 and many tents in only a week. Those were distributed to about 5 agencies to give them out to the homeless. This Winter we gave 16 tents to one of the agencies (Friends of Night People) who had given all theirs away already. Here is a link to the FB page I started for it: https://www.facebook.com/groups/4.THE.HOMELESS.POP.UP.TENTS/
I’d definitely use it for my copays. Things are running lean this month so it would be a Godsend! Thanks for the chance 🙂
I would buy Easter Baskets and dinner for a family in need.
mysticbutterfly37 at yahoo.com
I would use the money to go towards our local pet organization who cares for unwanted animals. They just took in 2 dogs who were hit by a car and need several surgeries. It would be great to donate to them!
I want to try some tens products for chronic pain.
I’m a ditz and didn’t read the details well the first time. I just realized that the winner should use the giftcard to benefit their community. I retract my statement about going out to eat. If I won I’d use the gift card to purchase toys for our local Children’s Hospital. They saved my son’s life when he was 5 months old and we purchase toys for their toy drive every year.
With the $100 I will be giving it to my father to use it for the the treatment of our family’s dog’s treatment of her recently diagnosed diabetes. This past month, Zeena, our family dog has been waking up to a lot of accidents where she was laying in puddle of her urine- upon taking her to the vet and getting blood tests we found out she had very bad diabetes from being untreated with her sugar lever almost 400- both of my parents are out of work from their own health issues and have had to spend over $400 on the vet bill and also her medication- also my father has had to get more insulin than was originally prescribed for the month because it is not controlling her levels yet and needing 12 units of insulin instead of the 3-4 units the vet has told us.
I give back to my community by donating food to the local food & personal care items, such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap,shampoo to our local shelters. If I win, I would use the $100 to purchase food as well as personal items for for our local shelter!
[email protected]
I donate money, food, and clothes to my local shelter. I do not live with medical technology.
I would give this gift card to my daughter’s school for supplies that are not covered by the school budget. Awesome giveaway! Thank you!
I give to the community by donating money and time for good cause. It makes you feel better.
I would put it towards my bills! Every bit helps!
I usually donate food, clothes, recycled bottles for my local food bank and Goodwill. And I do not live with medical technology, either.
If I won this awesome gift card, I would donate some to my local animal shelters
Thank You for the chance
We give back to the community by being involved with our library. We donate books, help with book drives and help to raise money for the library with bake sales. We would use the money to purchase new books for our home and for the library
I like to give back to the community because without them, I would not be as happy or successful as I am today. If I won, I would save the money to pay for medical school.