Basketball season may be all wrapped up, but that doesn’t mean Barrie Royals player Sydney Grace is going to sit back and relax.

Like many of her peers, the Barrie youngster loves sports and enjoys being active. She plays soccer and volleyball. She also likes to hit a few balls on the golf course, and her summers are spent in the water at her family’s cottage.

And when she’s not competing, the family cheers on younger brother Jake during his hockey and basketball games.

This past year has been a little busier than usual for the Grace family as Sydney, 12, was selected to be the national ambassador for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation’s Telus Walk to Cure Diabetes.

In Simcoe County, the walk is being held in two locations on different dates – in Alliston on May 30 and in Barrie on June 1.

It’s a disease she has lived with since she was four years old. She doesn’t remember life before diabetes, but her mom does. “I remember the day clearly,” said Patti, “then after that it was a bit of a blur.” She suspected the disease when her daughter began waking up in the night because she was thirsty. The diagnosis came with a steep learning curve involving blood sugar monitoring and insulin injections, but it helped that the family already had a healthy lifestyle.

Now eight years later, Sydney has learned to monitor and recognize the signs that she needs to adjust her insulin levels. She has an insulin pump, which has made a big difference in controlling the disease, but she must remain vigilant.

“In some ways, it’s more difficult,” explained her mom. “She’s more independent now.”

In fact, Sydney will be heading to Queen’s University next month for four days to participate in a program for Grades 7 and 8 students. Patti is a little nervous about the trip because it will be Sydney’s first time away from her parents. But she will be going with a friend who is familiar with the disease and will be able to look out for her.

Patti and her husband John decided they wouldn’t let diabetes limit their daughter. “We strive to treat her as a kid first and a diabetic second,” said Patti.

“That means she doesn’t get any special treatment. It’s never been an excuse to get out of, or into, something.” However, the family does need to take extra precautions, especially when she’s competing. She sometimes has to check her sugars in the middle of a game and occasionally take a break to bring her levels up.

“Her teammates aren’t fazed at all,” said Patti. “They don’t treat her any differently.”

As this year’s ambassador, Sydney has been invited to give talks about how diabetes has affected her life and she encourages people to support the upcoming Telus Walk to Cure Diabetes.

The role also included a six-hour photo shoot in Toronto. Her photo is on numerous posters and flyers promoting the walk. “Her uncle called from B.C. to say he saw her face in the local paper,” said Patti, who is also in some of the photos and has been recognized from time to time. “They’ll say, ‘look, it’s Sydney’s mom,” she laughed.

The family is participating in this year’s Telus Walk to Cure Diabetes, which is being held in Barrie in June. Last year’s walk raised more than $300,000. This year’s goal is $325,000. The walk was started 10 years ago by a group of volunteers, but it quickly grew and the foundation took over running it.

The money is used to support research projects into a cure for the disease. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that can strike at any age, but generally affects children and teens. The immune system attacks cells in the pancreas that produce insulin, a hormone that enables people to convert food into energy.

Sufferers are dependent on insulin for life to control the symptoms. They are at increased risk of a number of serious complications including heart disease kidney disease and blindness.

Telus is the foundation’s newest sponsor, but other companies have also stepped up to support the cause. The Suncor Energy Inc. is providing office space for the local branch at its Sunoco plaza just north of Barrie on Bayfield Street.

An open house is being planned for May. “It’s going to be great,” said Tracey Raycroft, the local JDRF fundraising co-ordinator, who had previously operated the office from her home. Having a separate office will give the foundation more room for meetings and other activities.

The company also supports the walk by encouraging its employees to participate, and matching what they raise. Last year, they raised $120,000.

Earlier this month, the foundation also held its first symposium, providing current information on research and other breakthroughs.

Another new initiative the foundation recently launched was an outreach program in Simcoe County. Trained volunteers from families affected by diabetes will be able to give support to other families who are dealing with the diagnosis.

“They can’t give medical advice,” said Raycroft, but they will be able to share experiences and provide information. “They’re really a sounding board for people,” she added as many families can feel they are the only ones going through the experience. For more information, e-mail barrie@jdrf.ca, or call 792-4833.

One of the biggest fundraisers the foundation organizes every year is walk that is held in communities across the country.

The walk in Alliston starts at Banting Memorial High School at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, May 30. The Barrie walk will be held on Sunday, June 1, at Heritage Park. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. and the 5-km walk starts at 10 a.m.

For more information on how to get involved, or to sponsor a participant, click the link provided.

Registration forms are also available at the Barrie Advance, Boston Pizza and Surelock Homes.