About Spare a Rose
In 2013, a group of people from the Diabetes Online Community (DOC) got together with the support of a team from Animas Corporation, an insulin pump company that was part of Johnson & Johnson. We talked about ways to make a difference to people living with diabetes through the power of the DOC. With Valentine's Day a few weeks away, we came upon the idea of asking people to give eleven roses instead of the typical dozen to their sweetheart and to donate the value of that extra rose -- about US$5 -- to Life for a Child, a charity that provided insulin and diabetes care supplies to children with type 1 diabetes living in under resourced countries. Spare a Rose. Save a Child. A simple concept that would bring life to thousands, because of the generosity of hundreds.
Over the years, Spare a Rose helped bring life-sustaining insulin and diabetes care supplies to people who would otherwise have done without. Small gestures of kindness -- the donation of $5 or $50 -- changed lives. Children grew up. Families thrived. Awareness of the important mission of Life for a Child grew, and with that awareness came substantial donations from organizations like the Helmsley Charitable Trust and companies like Lilly Diabetes. Life for a Child grew and is now well positioned to make a difference to children and young adults with type 1 diabetes.
But what about adults with type 1 diabetes, who grew up thanks to the generosity of the community and the support of Life for a Child? To address that need, those of us who continue to shepherd Spare a Rose decided to focus our attention for 2022 to a new charity, Insulin for Life, which supports children and adults living with type 1 diabetes. Insulin for Life and Life for a Child both make a profound difference in the lives of people with type 1 diabetes who live in under resourced countries. Both organizations quite literally save lives every single day. With its new focus on adults with type 1 diabetes, we now Spare a Rose. Save a Life.
Thanks to those who were part of the original meeting: Adam Brown, Kelly Close, Bennet Dunlap, Manny Hernandez, Jeff Hitchcock, Scott Johnson, and Kerri Sparling. Our vision of making a difference has lived on, helping thousands of people with type 1 diabetes around the world.
On behalf of those who continue to find inspiration from the kindness of so many, we thank you.
The Spare a Rose Team
Renza Scibilia
Renza Scibilia has lived with type 1 diabetes since 1998. She is a diabetes advocate and activist, and is the Program Manager for Type 1 Diabetes and Communities at Diabetes Australia. She has worked for diabetes organisations for the last twenty years, promoting a person-centred approach to the development, design and delivery of diabetes technologies, services, resources and education programs.
Renza has extensive experience as a consultant, facilitator, presenter, and media spokesperson and is frequently invited to speak at conferences where she speaks about topics including peer support in diabetes management, diabetes technology, and why language matters in diabetes and healthcare. Renza is well-known in the diabetes online community, and is well-versed in social media, its use and impact on people with chronic health conditions and application in peer support. She is the author of Diabetogenic, and a regular contributor to many online and print health publications.
Bastian Hauck
An economist and diplomat by training, Bastian is the Founder and CEO of the #dedoc° Diabetes Online Community and the creator of #docday° and the #dedoc° voices scholarship program, which empowers an international network of patient advocates to attend scientific conferences and collaborate with researchers and industry. He specializes in providing patient-centric, user-driven consultancy in healthcare communication, strategy and policy.
Bastian also serves on the board of diabetesDE, the International Diabetes Federation and the European Diabetes Forum, and acts as co-lead of the EU-funded OPEN Project, which conducts research on Do-It-Yourself Artificial Pancreas Systems (DIYAPS) and the #WeAreNotWaiting movement.
Bastian strongly believes in the core principle of peer support: Pay it forward.
Tinotenda Dzikiti
Tinotenda Dzikiti, a passionate advocate and educator in the diabetes community, hails from Zimbabwe. Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 13, his personal journey has fueled his dedication to raising awareness and fostering support for individuals living with diabetes. With a background in Financial Intelligence, Tinotenda brings a unique perspective to his advocacy work, which spans from local initiatives to global platforms. As a certified Diabetes Educator and Ambassador for various organizations, he strives to empower others, create inclusive spaces, and drive positive change in diabetes care and management worldwide.
Jeff Hitchcock
Jeff Hitchcock is the founder, president, and CEO of Children with Diabetes. After earning a degree in computational mathematics in 1981, Jeff worked in defense and high tech and traveled the world, meeting Brenda, who would become his wife, in Africa. In September of 1989, their first child was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of two.
Jeff worked in defense related industries until 1995, when he started a small internet company and launched Children with Diabetes to share his family's experience caring for a child with T1D. He subsequently worked at LEXIS-NEXIS and Pearson plc on Internet initiatives, and now works full time bringing Children with Diabetes to you.
Jeff also serves on the Board of Directors for the Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition (DPAC), an organization that advocates on behalf of people living with diabetes. Jeff received the 2021 ISPAD Hero Award for his work on Children with Diabetes.