Campaign to Accelerate: 16-Year-Old Sleeps Atop Flagpole to Support Life-Saving Research
100 years ago, insulin was discovered in Toronto.
Researchers Frederick Banting and Charles Best sold the patent to insulin for only $1, under the belief that no diabetic should be denied access to a life-saving drug.
Today, insulin is the sixthmost expensive liquid in the world and those living with Type 1 Diabetes require insulin to stay alive.
The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation wants to move beyond insulin and find a cure.
Sixteen-year-old volunteer Wilson Gaglardi is sleeping atop a 40-foot flagpole for 100 hours to help raise funds.
Gaglardi was diagnosed with T1D at the age of six.
Gaglardi is one of five brave Canadians impacted by Type 1 diabetes who are remaining perched atop flagpoles to support JDRF Canada's $100 million Campaign to Accelerate.
The flagpole challenge was inspired by Oliver & Bonacini co-founder and longtime JDRF support, Peter Oliver.
Thirty-two years ago, Oliver lived atop a flagpole until he raised $250,000 for T1D research, after his daughters diagnosis.
The flagpole represents the balancing act of the life and death decisions that those living with T1D face each day.
People can support Gaglardi and JDRF Canada by visiting canadacuresdiabetes.ca and making a donation.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadians are eyeing moves to these cities for more affordable housing
Faced with elevated housing prices, half of Canadians in the country's largest cities are considering moving to places with more affordable housing.
Poilievre says Canadians 'fleeing' to Nicaragua, Liberals say it shows he 'doesn't have a clue'
Liberal parliamentarians are criticizing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre over a new video in which he promotes the idea that some Canadians are 'fleeing' Canada to live in Nicaragua because they can't afford a house in this country.
With DNA break, police ID victim in decades-old Newfoundland case
A skull was found along a backroad near St. John's more than 20 years ago. Now, police have finally identified the victim of the homicide.
'Do not drive': Nissan warns Canadian drivers of explosion risk impacting 48,000 vehicles
Car manufacturer Nissan has issued a do-not-drive warning for some older vehicles equipped with Takata airbag inflators, due to the risk of explosion during a crash.
Tessa Virtue reveals she's expecting her first child. Here's what Canadians had to say
Canadian figure-skating icon Tessa Virtue is expecting her first child, she revealed via social media Tuesday.
Infant dies in ATV crash, N.S. RCMP says alcohol may be a factor
An infant has died and three others, including another child, were taken to hospital following an ATV crash in Forties, N.S., on Monday.
McDonald's says $18 Big Mac meal was an 'exception' and their prices haven't risen that much
McDonald’s is fighting back against viral tweets and media reports that it says have exaggerated its price increases.
B.C. mortgage broker ran $270-million Ponzi scheme, then fled Canada, bankruptcy trustee says
The trustee appointed to manage the bankruptcies of a Victoria mortgage company and its owner has concluded that they committed "numerous offences" and operated as a "massive Ponzi scheme."
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's housing plan defeated in House of Commons
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's housing bill has been defeated in the House of Commons with the Liberals, New Democrats and Bloc Quebecois voting against the legislation.