Fundraiser Sunday For "Super" Kid Battling Type 1 Juvenile Diabetes

Lawrenceburg four-year-old Amari Blake and his family are raising funds for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation with a barbecue at Arch Street Park on Sunday.

Amari Blake, of Lawrenceburg, has been diagnosed with Type 1 juvenile diabetes. Photo provided.

(Lawrenceburg, Ind.) - Familiar superheroes like Spiderman will be at Lawrenceburg’s Arch Street Park on Sunday for a fundraising picnic.

But the real-life superhero is the focus of the picnic, Amari Blake.

Amari can’t leap tall buildings or run faster than a speeding bullet. But the energetic four-year-old has bravely fought against a diagnosis of Type 1 juvenile diabetes.

Amari’s mother, Mica, says their lives changed a year ago when the boy slipped into a diabetic coma. He is conscious today.

“He woke up to needing shots all day long in order to live life. He is adjusting well to receiving shots and getting his sugar checked, but struggles with knowing this is going to be the rest of his life and feeling alone in his journey,” says Mica.

According to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that occurs when a person’s pancreas stops producing insulin, the hormone that controls blood-sugar levels. "T1D" develops when the insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells are mistakenly destroyed by the body’s immune system. The cause of this attack is still being researched, however, scientists believe the cause may have genetic and environmental components.

Amari and his service dog, Eleanor. Photo provided.

Amari spends most days with a service dog to help monitor his health. The four-legged companion is Eleanor, an American pit bull adopted from the SPCA and trained as a service dog.

Though he has to deal with difficulties most kids don’t, Mica is still a lot like many four-year-old boys.

“He loves the outdoors, adventures, and helping around the house. He has a big heart and is very compassionate,” Mica shares.

A freewill donation barbecue will be held at Arch Street Park Sunday, May 19 from 2:30 until 4:30 p.m. There will be food, drinks, music, and face painting. Visitors can also expect appearances by Spiderman, as well as hometown heroes with the Lawrenceburg police, fire and EMS departments.

The money raised Sunday will go toward Amari’s team, Sebastian’s Warriors, at the JDRF One Walk to be held at Kings Island on Saturday, June 2. Sebastian is Amari’s middle name.

You can donate to the Sebastian’s Warriors team for the JDRF One Walk at https://www2.jdrf.org/site/TR?team_id=280255&pg=team&fr_id=7653. Amari’s team has a $1,000 goal.