Marnee, Gary, Karen and Derek Lane

Team W.I.G.S. (walk in gary's shoes)

My name is Marnee Lane and I am the team captain of Team W.I.G.S (walk in gary's shoes) Supporting the American Diabetes Association (ADA) is one of my life's passions.
My father Gary, (the team is named after him) has had type 1 diabetes for the past 18 years. Looking back I cannot remember oneday in the past 18 years that he has let his disease get him down and not let him live his life to the fullest. My father is a huge advocate for diabetes, he helped get the walk started in Lubbock and served as the chairmen its first couple of years. This team is for him, to me this team honors him and the past 18 years!
Another, reason why I feel this team is so important and why supporting the ADA is so important is because of the education the ADA gives to people about diabetes. I have the best job in the world. I am a marketing liaison for a home health and hospice company. I get to help people daily and I love it. Yes, somedays can be harder then the others but helping people receive healthcare makes it all worth it. The company I work for takes care of a lot of diabetics! The main reason why a diabetic might need home health is because the patient needs to be taught how to take care and live with their diabetes. A nurse cannot be with the patient everytime they need to check their blood sugar or take their insulin shot, but the ADA can! Because of all the materials (magazines, brochures, reminder cards, and log books) patients and family members can educate themselves and learn how to live and thrive with diabetes.
I thought it was important for everyone to know why I am doing what I do. I hope oneday we find a cure and there is no more diabetes in the world. But until that day the ADA needs our support to help win the fight over diabetes.

by Marnee Lane