Partner Content: Camp Hendon Chairman of the Board to Receive Governor's Service Award

"Kentucky Agency Owner to Receive Governor's Service Award for Work with Kids with Diabetes"
Originally posted by The Source, Southern Region Agency News for Allstate Insurance

"If you have type 1 diabetes and you're a kid, what you get out of camp is transformational. You realize that you're not alone. there are lots of club members who are all in the same bucket, and it's so profound for these children. It's amazing."

Kentucky [Allstate] Agency Owner Bryan Fallon has been selected to receive a Volunteer Service Award at the 23rd Annual Governor's Awards for his continued work and dedication to Camp Hendon, a summer camp for children with Type 1 diabetes in Kentucky, Southern Indiana, and the surrounding area. Bryan was selected to receive this honor out of 70 nominations from around the state of Kentucky. Over the years, Bryan has recruited agents to help as a part of the Helping Hands program. Last year, he and 10 other agents raised $10,000 for Camp Hendon.

The camp's mission is to "give children with diabetes life-changing experiences, empowering them to take control of their journey with diabetes" by developing, enhancing and increasing their management skills such as "carbohydrate counting, self-monitoring of blood glucose, pattern management, insulin action and self-administration of insulin."

"When diabetes is in your face, it's not fun. Nothing about dealing with dynamic blood sugars is fun. If you're a kid, you're constantly wondering: What's going on in my life? Why am I this way? None of my friends have this. My friends are going to think I'm weird because I have to do this and that at school. At camp, it's not like that. Everyone is in the same bucket. It's so profound for these children. It's amazing."

Not only does Camp Hendon aim to foster camaraderie among campers, but also to offer parents a break from the daily concerns of raising a child with diabetes.

"Every night of a child's life that has type 1, the parent has to check their blood sugar or the child may not survive. It's very possible that the child could die if they don't make sure Jimmy is all right. When a parent sends their child to camp, we do rounds. Everyone gets checked. Their kids are safe, they're having a blast, and mom and dad get a break. If you know a kid that has type 1, demand their parents take them to camp. The more people know about getting kids with diabetes to a diabetes camp, the quicker these precious kids can take the chains of type 1 off themselves."

The Governor's Service Awards will take place the week of March 26 at the Capitol Rotunda in Frankfort.

If you are interested in participating in a service event with Bryan, you can email him for more information. You can also visit the Camp Hendon website, or contact camp staff Lori or Megan to learn about their various volunteer opportunities. With the Helping Hands grant, participating in an event with Camp Hendon for four hours is $1,000 for the organization to help transform a young child's life.

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