MTSU’s Employee Charitable Giving Campaign deadline has been extended to Friday, Nov. 9, which is good news for people like John Ross Langworthy.

Academic adviser Dr. Lucy Langworthy pauses in the middle of a busy day in MTSU’s College of Liberal Arts. She’s encouraging co-workers at the university to give what they can to the Employee Giving Campaign to help agencies across the community. Her son, John Ross, is living successfully with diabetes in part because of research funded by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. (MTSU photo by Andy Heidt)

The 13-year-old son of Dr. Lucy Langworthy, an academic advisor in the College of Liberal Arts, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when he was 18 months old. He’s now a strapping 13-year-old who plays football, basketball and baseball.

The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation is one of the 140-plus charities supported by the Employee Giving Campaign, which has a goal of $115,000 and is currently near 85 percent of pledges toward that goal.

“Their support, education and research make it possible for people with this illness to live lives as close to normal as possible,” Langworthy said of the research foundation.

John wears an insulin pump everywhere except in the shower, freeing him from the routine of injecting insulin via syringe or pen. His mother says it gives a feeling of self-sufficiency.

In fact, John is so adept at monitoring and controlling his own device that he came to the rescue of another child whose insulin pump came loose at a baseball camp two years ago. John simply used his extra equipment to fix the other youngster’s pump.

Langworthy said research has made it possible for her son to live a more rewarding life. That ongoing research needs continuing support through the Employee Charitable Giving Campaign as scientists try to find a cure for the increasingly prevalent disease.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity to give back to an organization that produces results you can see, said Langworthy, noting that 80 cents of every dollar the foundation receives goes toward research.

“We’re thrilled to know that we have a record number of givers and will have a record number of dollars this year,” said Dr. Hilary Stallings, manager of recruitment and resources for the College of Liberal Arts and a member of the campaign’s executive committee.

Contributions are distributed to organizations through the United Way, Community Health Charities, Community Shares and 11 independent charitable organizations.
Donations can be as little as $1 per month or a $5 one-time contribution. To give, visit www.mtsu.edu/givemtsu and click on the campaign logo.

— Gina K. Logue (Gina.Logue@mtsu.edu)