Canada trek aims to raise funds for those living with Type 1 diabetes
Lake Leelanau resident and Village Cheese Shanty employee André Massé is heading out on a next-level adventure in Canada this July to raise awareness and funds for a cause close to his heart.
This year, Massé is part of the Connected in Motion (CIM) Adventure Team, which is a group consisting of inspiring individuals from the Type 1 diabetes community “who push boundaries, achieve personal milestones, and support CIM’s mission to empower others to live life without limits.” The Canadian non-profit charity organization provides outdoor adventure and sport based experiential diabetes education for youth and adults with type 1 diabetes. Massé, 22, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when he was 11, and has been living with the disease for half his life.
Two teams, each consisting of ten hikers and two guides, will embark on a four day-long hike from July 20-27 on the East Coast Trail in Newfoundland, Canada. During the trip, team members will see everything from dramatic coastal cliffs, exposed headlands, and everchanging Atlantic weather along Newfoundland’s wild shore. Massé said he and the team expect to hike seven or eight miles everyday starting in the city of St. John’s, Newfoundland. In preparation for the days-long hike, Massé said he’s been busy running and hiking around the county with friends to ensure he’s in shape and ready to go come July.
The goal of the trip is to raise money for CIM’s mission and continued efforts to provide educational and experiential opportunities that enhance the lives of those living with type 1 diabetes through adventure, connection, and peer support.
“For me, it’s really important to just lead an active, fulfilling lifestyle as a type 1 diabetic because I think movement brings a lot of meaning to my life… I’ve done some backpacking trips with friends before, but nothing quite like this where it’ll be me and nine other type 1 diabetics going on the East Coast Trail,” Massé said. “Its important to appreciate nature and kind of do hard and fun things in spite of being diabetic, and connecting with other people that are going through similar journeys.”
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1.7 million adults aged 20 years or older, or 5.7% of all U.S. adults with diagnosed diabetes, reported both having type 1 diabetes and using insulin. Among the U.S. population overall, estimates for 2021 reported that 38.4 million people of all ages, or 11.6% of the U.S. population, had diabetes.
As of June 3, Massé’s CIM fundraiser has garnered about $845, or 19%, of his $4,500 goal. The donations go directly to CIM’s efforts and helps to support everything from providing resources that empower participants through education and experiences, to ensuring opportunities like the one Massé has remain accessible to all type 1 diabetics, regardless of income and background.
“I really appreciate just the community that I live in, everyone is so supportive. It makes being type 1 diabetic really easy and fun,” he said.
For more information about the CIM or to donate to Massé’s ongoing fundraiser, go to www. zeffy.com/en-CA/fundraising/ andre-masse.
