Dana Kanerva inside the Alberta Diabetes Institute
It was a day Jim Kanerva will never forget. July 12, 2000 marked the day his 3-year-old daughter Dana was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.
Jim and his wife Laurie had been worrying over their daughter's health for some time. They had first noticed their typically energetic child was tired all the time. Her increased appetite and insatiable thirst, paired with frequent urinating, had them concerned enough to visit the doctor several times. No concrete answers were provided until blood work requisition results came back. The diagnosis of diabetes provided an answer that only led to further questions.
Diabetes is a disease "that haunts my dream for my family," Jim explains in Dana's Disease: A Father's Journey Into The World Of Diabetes, a book he wrote chronicling the terrifying moments of his daughter's initial diagnosis and the first few years of their family bravely living with the chronic disease. Jim's journey has been a constant struggle, compounded when his son Ross received the same diabetes diagnosis two years after Dana.
Despite the ongoing rage and frustration, somehow he managed to channel his emotions towards searching for a cure.
A passion for being part of the solution
At the time of Dana's diagnosis, Jim's employer Waiward Steel, was actively engaged with an Alberta foundation that had just supported the development of the Edmonton Protocol. This seemed the best place for Jim to direct his passion, and he became involved with the Alberta Diabetes Foundation.
Jim has held a variety of roles within the Alberta Diabetes Foundation for the past 15 years serving as Board Chair from 2013-2015, currently serving as Past Chair. Past positions include, Organising Committee Chair for the Annual Fun Run, now known as the Halloween Howl, an event that raises more than $100,000 annually. Jim has also passionately served on the Hummingbird Gala Committee-the Alberta Diabetes Foundation's signature fundraising event-raising approximately $250,000 annually.
Jim is also a long-standing member of the Sturgeon Valley Cosmopolitan Club, known as 'the club that fights diabetes,' which supports diabetes research including raising funds for the Alberta Diabetes Foundation at the annual Rock'n August event, an international car show and music festival in St. Albert.
A University of Alberta alumnus, Jim completed his Bachelor and Master degrees in the Faculty of Engineering, launching his dazzling career with Waiward Steel upon graduation. Rising through the ranks at Waiward, he became COO in 2010. He has recently returned to his alma mater to work on his PhD.
He admits that sleepless nights sometimes prevail, but says in those moments of despair and solitude he finds solace by shifting his mindset from worrying to more productive Alberta Diabetes Foundation purposes such as rethinking who he has contacted for sponsorships, event table sales and invitations, to join a run or to wear a jersey for a good cause.
"I have never seen one single person work so hard for any other single purpose." says Brad Fournier, Executive Director of Alberta Diabetes Foundation, awe-struck by Jim's dedication of tireless hours supporting events.
"I have witnessed Jim Kanerva raise a legion of warriors around him-his fight is no longer a one-man fight, but an army of families extending to friends, work colleagues, acquaintances and even strangers. Their quest is to fund diabetes research in the ultimate pursuit of a cure for type 1 diabetes," Fournier says.
Jim's words at the end of his book echo his life mission. "My hope rests with God and the numerous scientists around the world that tirelessly work to find a cure. I will do what I can to help the cause."
Jim Kanerva at the opening of the Physical Activity Diabetes Lab in the Alberta Diabetes Institute
About the Alberta Diabetes Foundation
The Alberta Diabetes Foundation raises money for diabetes research at the University of Alberta, directing their efforts into critical funding of innovative pilot projects as well as graduate and summer studentships and funding world-class scientific recruitment, adding more research capacity to the already impressive membership of the Alberta Diabetes Institute.
To date, the Alberta Diabetes Foundation has raised more than $13 million. They continue to support life-changing diabetes research in the search to prevent, treat and ultimately cure diabetes.
Did you know you can join Jim Kanerva's efforts to support the Alberta Diabetes Foundation? For more information, visit the Alberta Diabetes Foundation online or contact them toll free at 1 800 563 2450. Together we can improve the lives of people living with diabetes.
Leading up to World Diabetes Day on November 14, the University of Alberta recognizes the importance of raising awareness about the effects of diabetes on our communities, and the efforts of health professionals to improve patients' lives and find a definitive cure.