What does jumping out of a plane have to do with type 1 diabetes? Michael Hall talks about why he jumps, and shares his tips for fundraising success.
My son Hayden was diagnosed when he was in Kindergarten (May 2012) and I would give anything to rid him of this disease. As Hayden got type 1 diabetes (T1D) very young, it has pretty much become ‘part of life’ now, but he would love to be like other kids and enjoy the lolly bowls at kids’ parties. He’d also like to be free of carb counting, highs and lows, and doing around 8-10 finger prick tests (including at 2am) each day.
It’s extremely heartbreaking when Hayden says, “I wish I didn’t have diabetes” or “Are they ever gonna find a cure Dad?” What do you say? It’s pretty tough on all involved.
The only way to make a better life a possibility for Hayden, is to find a cure through research. This is how I came to jump out of a plane for JDRF. I did it first in 2013, and was very proud to be a top earner in NSW. I recently decided it was time to do my bit again for JDRF, and so I jumped again in May. I also wanted to do the Jump as a way of giving back — we received a lot of support (including from JDRF) when Hayden was first diagnosed. We’d had no prior exposure to the disease at all, and it was a massive learning curve for all of us.
I was ready to promote my Jump, and fundraise straight away — the Team Cure Diabetes portal is really easy to use and takes little time at all to be up and running.
Here’s how I achieved my fundraising success, for other jumpers looking to help JDRF:
- Be persistent. I wrote to several businesses looking for donations or donated prizes that I could raffle off. While most replied with the standard “We already support several fundraisers each year” response, one restaurant chain donated $200, and I also got some entrance and members tickets for the races to raffle off, to those who donated.
- Move the goalposts. I raised around $4,300 the first time I jumped for JDRF, and I wanted to do better this time. I had a personal goal in mind of $5,000 and although I started with a lower goal on the fundraising page, I increased it each time I met a milestone.
- Find a balance. I tried to be strategic about when I would post on Facebook, so as not to annoy people, but to also make sure I kept the momentum going. I also posted once every few weeks in the early days then increased over the last couple of weeks as the Jump got closer.
- Timing matters. You need to be smart as to when you post, I wouldn’t post on a Friday or Saturday night as most people would be out and about doing things. It’s best to do post at quieter times like Monday nights, when people are likely to be at home on the couch catching up on Facebook.
- Think of the end result. I hit a bit of a wall at around $4,000 and had to push very hard to get that last $1,000. But it was worth the real sense of achievement I felt after meeting my personal fundraising goal. I’m still feeling very proud that my money will go to the JDRF to fund not only research into a cure, but also the education and support services they provide for new families touched by this disease.
The jump itself? It’s an amazing feeling, falling out of a plane at 14,000 feet, hitting speeds of about 220 km/hr. Words cannot describe it, but you are already thinking about doing it again before you even land it’s that good.
After the Jump, I caught up for lunch with a family that we met at a camp for kids new to diabetes, and some of my own family including my brother, who also jumped. It was a lovely afternoon, and great way to celebrate the fundraising and Jump!
Are you ready to Jump?
The Jump to Cure Diabetes is held across Australia. You can find out more, or register here, to Jump to Cure Diabetes. Or, if you’d like to contact us directly, email us at jumpsupport@jdrf.org.au or call 1300 363 126.