Though summer is still several weeks away, the staff at Camp Ho Mita Koda is busily preparing to welcome 300 campers to our bea

utiful camp in Newbury Township.  Counselors and medical staff are 

being hired, the grounds are being prepared, and the cabins are being aired out to welcome campers to another summer filled with fun adventures with old and new friends.

   When Dr. Henry John and his wife Betty brought six of Dr. John's patients to their summer home in Newbury more than 80 years ago, they never could have imagined that their little wooded retreat would have blossomed into such a vibrant summer camping experience. Their vision of giving children with diabetes the chance to enjoy their childhood summers continues to be a reality each year for dozens of children and teenagers.  Campers enjoy days filled with entertaining programs and athletics while their parents are assured they are receiving excellent medical supervision and care.

   Heading up that care this summer will be CHMK's new Medical Director, Naveen Uli, M.D.  Dr. Uli is a pediatric endocrinologist at University Hospitals.  He has been one of our camp physicians for the past eight years where he has become acquainted not only with many of our campers and staff but also with the day-to-day operations of the camp dispensary.  We are delighted Dr. Uli will be joining our staff in this new role.  While we welcome Dr. Uli, we also say good-bye with much gratitude to Dr. Doug Rogers who has served as CHMK's Medical Director for 13 years.  Dr. Rogers has played an active role in the medical care of our campers, and we are delighted he will continue to lead his popular biannual bicycle rides along the Towpath Trail for interested teenagers. (Be sure to sign up for the one in June. See left column.) 

   Registration is still open for all camp sessions.  Please visit the camp website for session dates, information about Camp Open House and to register.  We look forward to welcoming new and old friends to Dr. John's beautiful camp in the woods this summer.

   It's large, colorful and can be yours!  The Diabetes Association of Greater Cleveland is holding a raffle for a special "Rings of Hope" handmade quilt.  All money raised from the raffle will be used to support diabetes education and Camp Ho Mita Koda.  Raffle tickets are $5 each or 5 for $20 and can be purchased by clicking here. Tickets also will be available for purchase at DAGC education and fundraising events throughout the year. The drawing for the quilt will be held October 29, 2011 at DAGC's annual fundraiser, Promenade. 

   The quilt was donated by Jane Korsberg, an educator and long-time volunteer at DAGC.  The full-sized quilt features a colorful Double Wedding Ring pattern and measures 77" x 92".  This popular interlocking ring pattern dates back to the fourth century when it was used to decorate Roman cups. During the 15^th and 16^th centuries, this pattern was used often on decorative items in Europe to signify two engagement rings uniting in marriage.

   At the Diabetes Association of Greater Cleveland, the quilt represents hope for those people living with diabetes as well as working together to help them live well with the disease. So whether it is to hang on a wall as a beautiful piece of art or to spread as a warm addition to your bed, the "Rings of Hope" quilt represents the beauty of hope. Buy your tickets today!

   Good health is a priority at Liberty Bank, N.A. The full-service bank with branches in Beachwood, Solon and Twinsburg recently launched a two-month long wellness challenge to their employees.  The challenge: for employees to establish unique, personalized wellness goals and track their progress. The bank pledged $50 to DAGC for each bank employee who met at least 90 percent of his or her individual wellness goal. Liberty Bank Chairman and CEO William A. Valerian recently presented a check for $1,000 to DAGC to honor the twenty employees who reached at least 90 percent of their goals.

   According to Valerian, DAGC was a natural beneficiary choice for a challenge centered on health and wellness.  "I believe diabetes is the single biggest problem in America, and it's due to obesity," he said. "Like the Diabetes Association of Greater Cleveland, we are a local organization wanting to help people in our own community."  Thank you, Liberty Bank, for your commitment to achieving good health in the Cleveland area.