Chesapeake’s Aces For Abby Volleyball Match Raises Funds For Diabetes Research

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The Chesapeake volleyball program supported a worthy cause on October 3 as the Cougars and senior Abby Mollick raised $2,600 for the Junior Diabetes Research Fund at the Aces for Abby volleyball game against Glen Burnie.

Mollick, a senior member of the Chesapeake volleyball team, was diagnosed with Type-1 diabetes in February of 2018, and for the second consecutive year, the program devoted a game to raising money for the Junior Diabetes Research Fund.

Mollick used the event to champion the goal of finding a cure for Type-1 diabetes, a chronic condition in which the body produces little or no insulin to regulate blood sugar levels. Type-1 diabetes affects 1.25 million Americans and can occur at any age, according to the American Diabetes Association.

“My classmates and school community have been very supportive,” said Mollick. “There’s ways to manage diabetes, but there’s no cure, and money and research is how we’re going to find a cure.”

Attendees at the Aces for Abby match offered donations throughout the night, with many buying refrigerator magnets made from recycled insulin pumps that were painted and decorated by Chesapeake’s varsity and JV volleyball players. The event raised $2,600, eclipsing last year’s total of $2,500, which will go directly to JDRF.

Mollick was first diagnosed with Type-1 diabetes in February of 2018 after experiencing significant weight loss and excessive hunger and thirst over a period of months. Type-1 diabetes is distinct from Type-2 diabetes in that Type-1 diabetes generally occurs in younger people, though it can occur at any age, and must be treated with regular insulin injections or an insulin pump. Type-2 diabetes can occur at any age and is often a result of diet and exercise levels, and can be dramatically reversed (though not fully cured) with proper diet and exercise and often without medication. Type-2 diabetes is much more common than Type-1 diabetes; 30 million Americans live with Type-2 diabetes and another 70 million people have “pre-diabetic” blood sugar levels and Type-2 warning signs, according to the Center for Disease Control.

Mollick now wears an insulin pump and monitor and, like everyone with Type-1 diabetes, must be constantly mindful of her blood sugar levels to make sure she is pumping or injecting enough insulin to keep her blood sugar at normal levels. Insulin is neutralized by stomach acids, which is why it cannot be taken in pill form and must be injected.

Holly Mollick, Abby’s mother, said Abby took the diagnosis in stride and immediately turned it into an initiative.

“From the get-go, she just took it right away and went with it. She’s never let it get her down,” said Holly Mollick. “She’s a great kid, it’s her new normal, and she just has to manage it. We’re super proud of her. She’s so passionate about being a youth ambassador, that she loves giving back.”

As a three-sport athlete in volleyball, basketball and tennis and a representative of Anne Arundel County at this past summer’s National Student Leadership Summit, Abby Mollick is accustomed to taking charge when presented with challenges. Her father, Frank Mollick, said even amidst the uncertainty of hospital visits and treatments at the time of her diagnosis, Abby was itching to get back to her pursuits.

“We remember being in the hospital, and she had basketball practice that day, and she wanted to get out and go to practice,” Frank said.

View high-resolution originals, prints and downloads of photos in this gallery. Photos by Colin Murphy

On hand to represent JDRF at the Aces for Abby game was Pete Sheldon, the former president of the JDRF board of directors for the mid-Atlantic region, who said that events like Abby’s are vital to the organization’s efforts to find a cure for diabetes.

“JDRF is a $200-million-a-year organization, so it’s got this very large footprint, but different from a lot of associations, it’s mostly grassroots functions just like this,” said Sheldon. “So we do walks, we do fundraisers like this, so increments of $25 to $100 donations — that’s what we’re looking for. These [events] are the cornerstones of how they raise money, so imagine a hundred of these types of events happening around the country every day.”

The event had an immediate inspirational impact on Kirra Weibe, a fifth-grader at High Point Elementary. Kirra’s mother, Tina Weibe, posted a comment to the Pasadena Voice Facebook page directed to Abby and applauding her efforts.

“My daughter is fifth-grader at High Point Elementary and also has Type 1,” Weibe wrote. “Some days are tough for her (and us), I’m sure you know it. She smiled SO huge when I read the story to her! Keep up the great work and thanks for adding a little inspiration to my sweet girl’s day!”

Weibe added in a subsequent message that Mollick has made her daughter feel more comfortable being open about living with Type-1 diabetes.

“[Kirra] doesn’t run into too many Type-1’s locally, so seeing Abby and her story was super exciting,” said Wiebe. “She loves finding others, especially girls, that get up and ‘do things’ (be active, play sports, etc). The story is a big deal for Kirra because she is not always comfortable to show herself caring for T1D, nor does she talk openly about T1D, so seeing people like Abby do it helps her feel comfortable and empowered.”

In a short speech to attendees before the match, Sheldon noted that technology and treatment for Type-1 diabetes has improved tremendously over the past 40 years since the JDRF was founded, to the point where people living with Type-1 diabetes can live normal, healthy lives as long as they stay continuously aware of their condition and manage it throughout every day.

Still, a cure for Type-1 diabetes remains the goal, which is why Mollick spurred her team and the community into action for the past two years. The Chesapeake girls basketball team plans to host a similar fundraising event this winter, and Mollick knows her efforts are already having a positive effect on the community and the search for a cure.

“They’re more aware of the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes,” Mollick said, “and it definitely brings the community together.”

View high-resolution originals, prints and downloads of photos in this gallery. Photos by Colin Murphy

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