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
From AI running wild to collapsing ecosystems, government report outlines future disruptions
From artificial intelligence running wild to collapsing ecosystems, a new Canadian government report outlines 35 disruptions that could rattle the country in the near future.
B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton hospitalized after prison attack
British Columbia serial killer Robert Pickton was attacked and sustained life-threatening injuries in a Quebec prison Sunday in what officials described as a 'major assault.'
opinion Tom Mulcair: With Trudeau spiralling, Mark Carney waits in the wings
In his latest column for CTVNews.ca, former NDP leader Tom Mulcair argues that if there's an unofficial frontrunner in the eventual race to replace Justin Trudeau as Liberal leader, it has to be former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney.
Toronto Blue Jays fan struck by 110 m.p.h foul ball offered tickets, signed baseball by team
The Toronto Blue Jays have offered tickets and a signed baseball to a fan who says she was struck in the face by a 110 m.p.h (177 km/h) foul ball at Friday’s game.
Matthew Perry's death is being investigated over ketamine level found in actor's blood, reports say
An investigation has been opened into the death of Matthew Perry and how the “Friends” actor received the anesthetic ketamine, which was ruled a contributing factor in his death.
OPP continues to investigate boat collision north of Kingston, Ont. that left 3 people dead
Ontario Provincial Police continue to investigate a long weekend fatal boat collision on Bobs Lake, north of Kingston, Ont.
Police in Ontario say suspects charged in armed home invasion near Toronto part of 'larger criminal network'
Police in Ontario say a group of suspects charged in an armed home invasion north of Toronto last year were driving a vehicle stolen in a carjacking in Calgary just one month earlier.
Stolen septic truck swerves through traffic, spike belt needed to stop it: Manitoba RCMP
A 29-year-old woman has been charged after police say she stole a septic truck from a Manitoba community and drove erratically on the highway.
Orphan orca's extended family spotted off northeast side of Vancouver Island
Members of a killer whale pod related to an orphan orca calf that escaped a remote British Columbia tidal lagoon last month have been spotted off the northeast coast of Vancouver Island.