Red Maxwell
Red Maxwell wants researchers to find a cure for Type I, Juvenile Diabetes. As the father of a daughter with Type I, and a recently diagnosed wife with Type I diabetes, he’s motivated to find a cure and to support those with the disease. Red has done more than just serve on boards to raise awareness. He has also created an online social media support group for parents and people with diabetes: http://juvenation.org/user/cs_jdrf_home/ and he blogs about the disease for parents at:
http://parentsguidetodiabetes.blogspot.com/
“People often mistake Type I and Type 2,” he says. And the mistake can be cruel – people who don’t understand Type I often assume a person can *cure* themselves by changing their eating habits. But eating has nothing to do with what causes Type I diabetes. Eating habits help control insulin levels, but changing your eating habits is NOT a cure for Type I diabetes. There simply isn’t one – YET.
There are two major types of diabetes: type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes, also called juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes, is a disorder of the body’s immune system — that is, its system for protecting itself from viruses, bacteria or any “foreign” substances.
For this reason, people with type 1 diabetes must take insulin in order to stay alive. This means undergoing multiple injections daily, or having insulin delivered through an insulin pump, and testing their blood sugar by pricking their fingers for blood six or more times a day.
For children and teens, this sort of intensive monitoring and control can be devastating and depressing. Where does a football player put a pump? How do you deal with ignorance or people who say cruel things, uninformed things about your illness? Those are all questions Red is helping solve with the social media/support group at http://juvenation.org/user/cs_jdrf_home/. It’s a place those with diabetes and those who love and support them can go to find out more, to get answers, to encourage each other. He didn’t have to do that. He could have been content to simply deal with those in his life. But he’s making an imprint.
Red is a proven design and branding professional with over 20 years experience in the marketing field. He started the in-house advertising design department at Polo Ralph Lauren in New York then became a principal and creative head of Design Factory, an international design and marketing boutique before founding onramp Branding.
A three time winner of the London International Advertising Awards, he has developed major brand introductions for Danone Foods, Foster’s Brewing Company and RJR/ Planters LifeSavers.
Red is also a pioneer of internet marketing and has launched online sites and promotions for Hanes, Duke Energy, Sara Lee Foods, Accenture and Yahoo! Yet he “stays hungry,” looking for the cure and doing all he can to help, support and educate people about diabetes.
“There’s so much happening every day,” he said. “So there’s always hope.”
and http://juvenation.org/user/cs_jdrf_home/
I think Red embodies what it means to “Stay Hungry”. His willingness to not just sit back, but actually do something about his daughter’s diabetes is truly inspirational. I’m not sure how I can help, but this is definitely a band wagon worthy of jumping on, so let me know. Best of luck to you and your daughter!