Kid's Play Becomes Diabetes Fundraiser

Helen Rapp, a 17-year-old from Ladue, MO, never dreamed her love for putting on skits, dances and plays in her backyard would one day help diabetes research.

She started in theater when she was nine, and would spend all her free time performing with friends. When her brother, Turner, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when he was 10, Helen immediately wanted to put her and her friends’ talents to use through a backyard fundraiser for diabetes research. Helen and her friends never performed in her backyard for their diabetes fundraiser because too many people wanted to attend. So she and her friends started the Arch City Theater Troupe and put on their first benefit in their local Missouri community.

In its first year in 2005, the benefit raised $4,000. In the second year, it doubled that amount. During the third year it brought in $15,000 and this year’s goal is $16,000. All of the proceeds go to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

After reading about Helen’s little dream that yielded big results, what are some talents you could share to fund disease research? [West County Journal]