By Steve Hubrecht
A fundraiser that started out small has quickly grown quite big, all sparked by the dedicated effort of a local elementary school student.
J.A. Laird Elementary Grade 6 student Max LeBlanc, 11, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes just before his second birthday. His mother Jody explained to the Pioneer that “that was the day that forever changed our lives” but quickly added that Max has always been very independent and keen to manage his diabetes himself.
That included starting injecting his own needles when he was just four years old. By the time he was seven, Max decided he wanted to fundraise for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) to help the group find a cure for Type 1 diabetes.
Mom Jody and dad Marc helped Max get set up at Birchwood Restaurant (Marc is Birchwood’s co-owner), selling tacos, beer, sangria and lemonade on the afternoon of Canada Day in 2019.
“We didn’t realize just how big it was going to be,” said Jody. “Then at one point I looked up and saw that there was a lineup (nearly a full block) going all the way down the street from Birchwood to the bank.”
Max’s goal during that first fundraiser was to raise $500 in three hours. He blew past that goal with flying colours, raising more than $2,700.
The COVID-19 pandemic meant no fundraiser in 2020 or 2021, but in 2022 it was back, and Max raised more than $3,000. Last year the event grew even more, as Max raised more than $4,800. That means a total of more than $10,000 raised across three editions of the fundraiser, with 100 per cent of money raised going to the JDRF.
This year, in its fourth edition, the fundraiser will be extended for an extra hour, and Max hopes to top $5,000.
Max’s fundraising efforts even caught the attention of the Canadian Senate, where Max’s grandmother — New Brunswick Senator Nancy Hartling — recently gave a speech emphasizing the need for funding for diabetes research and mentioned her grandson.
Jody thanked friends and co-workers, and beer company and food company representatives who helped make the fundraiser a success.
Max’s fundraiser will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday, July 1 at Birchwood restaurant. Tacos are $3 each, beer or sangria is $5, and lemonade is by donation. Donations can be made directly to the JDRF by visiting www.JDRF.com.
