Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler hasn't let type 1 diabetes stop him from becoming one of the NFL's rising stars.
At Lilly USA, LLC (Lilly), we're inspired by Jay's story. And we’re rooting for Jay to have another Pro Bowl season and lead the NFL in touchdowns and pass completions. The more success Jay has, the more kids we'll be helping through the Touchdowns for Diabetes diabetes camp scholarship program.
For every touchdown pass Jay completes during the 2009 season, Lilly will donate $1,000 — or approximately the cost of one full camp scholarship — to the American Diabetes Association's (ADA) camp scholarship fund. And for every pass Jay completes this season, we'll donate $100 to the scholarship fund to allow even more kids the chance to attend camp next summer.
So this year, rooting for Jay means rooting for kids.
Since learning he had type 1 diabetes after his second season in the NFL, Jay has worked to help inspire children with diabetes to achieve their goals — and let them see that diabetes doesn't have to stop them from being who they want to be.
After playing in his first NFL Pro Bowl after the 2008 season, Jay teamed up with Lilly in the offseason to visit children's hospitals across the country and visit with families affected by diabetes. In April 2009, he was honored by the Indiana chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation as its "Promise Light" honoree for helping raise awareness of the need to find a cure for diabetes.
Children with diabetes, particularly those with a new diagnosis, often feel like no one understands what they're feeling or what it's like to live with diabetes. But at these fun, medically-supervised diabetes camps, children can learn from others with diabetes that living and thriving is not only possible, it's within reach. Camps also help children make new friends and develop lifelong support systems that last well beyond that single camp experience. No one has to go it alone.
Through the Touchdowns for Diabetes program, families who need a little extra help can now give their child with diabetes a memorable summer camp experience. For more information about diabetes camps, visit the .
Lilly USA, LLC (Lilly), a worldwide leader in diabetes research and treatment, introduced the world's first commercial insulin in 1923 and remains at the forefront of medical and delivery device innovation to manage diabetes.
Lilly has a long history of supporting diabetes camps through product donations, educational resources, and financial assistance for families. Through the Inspired by Diabetes program, Lilly has donated $100,000 to the ADA's camp scholarship program to provide funds for kids with diabetes to attend camps. Lilly is proud to sponsor the Touchdowns for Diabetes program as an arm of the Inspired by Diabetes campaign.