Seventh-Grader Honored For Diabetes Fund-Raising

AURORA (WBBM) -- The West Aurora District 129 School Board has honored Herget Middle School seventh-grader Emily Laughead for her efforts to raise money to fight type 1 juvenile diabetes.

Emily was diagnosed with type 1 juvenile diabetes in 2003. Since 2005, she and her family have raised more than $40,000 for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

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They hold garage sales, sidewalk sales, man booths at local festivals and take part in diabetes walks. Emily also has her own non-profit organization, called Emily's Hope and her own website, www.emilyshope.org.

"I wanted to make a difference and actually try to find a cure," she said.

Emily says she wants to help find a cure for type 1 juvenile diabetes because it's a horrible disease.

Because of her efforts, last year, Emily became the youngest person to ever win the Roscoe Ebey Kane County Citizen of the Year Award.