CROSBY -- Because of Brandon, a fundraiser in memory of Brandon Houge, a young man from Ironton who unexpectedly died from complications of diabetes, will be Saturday, July 28, in Crosby.
All proceeds will be used to fund youth diabetes camps, patient travel expenses and educational events.
“My son, Brandon, was only 13 when he was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes,” stated event chair Doug Houge in a news release. “Despite excellent care and his best efforts, complications arose and Brandon passed away in December 2015 at the age of 27. We miss him every day and still cry over losing him. But, we are determined to help others avoid the same loss. Please help us honor his memory by supporting this fun event.”
The benefit for Cuyuna Regional Medical Center’s Diabetes Education Department will include a beer and wine tasting, silent auction, barbecue, raffle and street dance featuring Pandemic from St. Cloud, all at the Crosby Bar & Grill. New this year will be an all-terrain vehicle ride to benefit Because of Brandon. Riders will be driving through Crosby to raise funds. For details, contact ironrider@comcast.com .
The raffle is for a 2018 Alterra 500 ATV from Brothers Motorsports ($4,999 value), a Ruttger’s Bay Lake Lodge weekend with meals and golf ($1,150 value), a .22 LR Barracuda gun donated by Magnum Research ($840 value), $150 and $50. Tickets are $10 each and are available at CRMC’s Cuyuna Lakes Pharmacy, the Crosby Bar & Grill and Culver’s in Baxter.
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Since Because of Brandon was established two years ago, more than $100,000 has been raised to fund youth diabetes camps, patient travel expenses and educational events. Most of the funds provide scholarships for youths to attend Camp Needlepoint, a weeklong, summer outdoor camp on the St. Croix River in Hudson, Wis., for youngsters with diabetes. The camp helps children participate in traditional activities while connecting with others with diabetes, the release stated.
Health care professionals oversee daily diabetes care and help campers learn to manage and live successfully with their disease. Scholarship recipients have been from Crosby, Aitkin, Pequot Lakes and Longville.
More than 18,000 youths are diagnosed with diabetes every year. Nearly 30 million people in the United States, or about 10 percent of the population, have diabetes and over one-third of adults have pre-diabetes. When diabetes is not well controlled, people are at an increased risk of serious health complications including blindness, amputation, heart disease, stroke, kidney failure and premature death.
For more information, send a message to Peggy.Stebbins@cuyunamed.org or call 218-545-4447. Event updates are available at http://brandon18.gesture.com .
