Skip to main content

Campaign to Accelerate: 16-Year-Old Sleeps Atop Flagpole to Support Life-Saving Research

Share

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

Saskatchewan isn't remitting the carbon tax on home heating. Why isn't my province following suit?

After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.

Stay Connected