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Hardman family grateful for support
To the Editor:
Macie Hardman is a 7-year-old and a second-grader at Jackson Township Elementary School.
In January 2012, during her kindergarten year, she was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D).
Over Christmas break, her mother noticed her drinking more and having to use the bathroom more than normal.
After some blood work, it showed that she was diabetic.
This means that her pancreas is no long functioning.
As of right now, there is no cure. There will be a cure for one day, I know it.
A year ago, Macie came to me and asked how she could raise money to help the fight for diabetes.
After us talking it over, she decided that she wanted to sell shirts.
She went to work and designed a logo.
She was ready, but as life gets crazy and things happen, her plans were put on the back burner.
Four weeks ago though, Macie came to me and asked again about the shirts.
I kind of let it go, but the next day while making copies at the school, a fax came through for JDRF and I knew that was my sign to help her in any way I could.
I asked her after school what she wanted to do and she said to sell shirts.
So that is what we did!
I took her design, which included a ribbon on the front and a man holding a little girls' hand, which was to represent our good friend, Andy, who is also T1D, to Kevin Higgins of A+ Printing and let him and his staff do their magic and after a few changes from Macie, we had a design for the shirt.
I put a post on Facebook to see if anybody wanted to buy one and the turnout was overwhelming to say the least.
What we thought of only selling a few shirts turned out to be more than 125 shirts and we still have people asking to buy one (which we still are selling).
There were donations also given to us.
When I called to ask about how to send the money of what the procedure was, I was told there was going to be a walk Oct. 5, 2013, and they said that would be a great opportunity to Macie to meet others with T12D and turn in her money.
Her goal was $150, which was greatly surpassed.
Macie formed a team, Macie's Miracle Team, to walk with her in the fight against T1D.
On Saturday, Macie turned in a check for $1,816 to JDRF.
All money she raised was donated.
With this money, it will help the research continue so that she can say one day, "I used to have T1D but then they found a cure!"
There are a lot of people who made her dream come true. First and foremost, without the support of our family, this couldn't have been possible.
A huge thank you to my parents, Randy and Cindy Porter, and my grandma Betty Morris for all their help.
A big thank you to Andy and Kelly Kirchner, Brad and Jill Griner, the French Family, Josh Clarke, Pennington Family, Cooper Family, Terre Haute Savings Bank and all the other who gave money.
I could not start to thank everyone personally. We would definitely forget someone.
Also to Kevin Ringo for allowing Macie to place a can at the restaurant to take up donations, and Kevin Higgins and staff at A+ Printing for all their work on the shirts.
Again, without all the people who bought shirts, gave a donation, or just said words of encouragements, it means so much.
After this, I can say we live in an amazing community.
I can't wait to see what we can accomplish next year!
From the bottom of our hearts, we can't thank you all enough.
Macie Hardman and Family,
Clay County