On June 27^th, ten kids with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and their parents attended the Padres – Diamondbacks game and a special Meet & Greet with Padres pitcher Brandon Morrow who has met the challenges of T1D each day of his college and pro career. The event was organized by Chris and Lorraine Stiehl who have facilitated this type of event for the past 15 years. The Stiehls generously provide the tickets to parents and children with T1D and arrange something special to make the game a memorable experience. Previous events featured former Padres third baseman Phil Nevin and 1987 World Series MVP Alan Trammel. Chris, who has had T1D for over 50 years, said “the purpose of the event is to give kids the gift of having one day where they can feel like there is an advantage to having T1D.”

This year the kids and parents qualified for the event by taking part in a special JDRF One Walk promotion to support raising funds for T1D research. The JDRF One Walk will be held at Balboa Park on November 7^th 2015. The Walk aims to raise over $650,000 for research to cure, better treat and prevent T1D. Click Here to Register for the One Walk.

Brandon Morrow was diagnosed with T1D when he was a senior at Rancho Cotate High School in Rohnert Park CA. That year, he was 9-2 with a 0.61 ERA and had 84 strikeouts in 63 innings. Prior to signing with the Padres last December, Morrow pitched for the Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners.

Brandon gives kids like Jake Lamb, who will be starting his high school baseball career in the Fall, a T1D role model. Brandon demonstrates that it is possible to keep doing the things you love, like playing baseball, while managing blood sugar levels. Jake and his family have been involved with JDRF since he was diagnosed 14 years ago.

Gathered together on the field during batting practice, Brandon told the kids and parents about his pregame routine and how he does the same thing before every game in order to maintain his blood sugar levels. Amber Sykes who attended with her son Aiden said “It was amazing to be on the field and to listen to Brandon talk to the kids. It was such a memorable evening for Aiden and me!”

The event was so inspirational that the Padres and JDRF will be holding another Meet & Greet with Brandon on August 23^rd at the game against the St. Louis Cardinals. Every time a team walking in honor of a child with T1D raises $50 that child will be entered into a drawing for two tickets to the August 23^rd game and the opportunity to meet the only T1D pitcher in Major League Baseball. This special promotion will start 7/25 and run through 8/15. For example, if the team raises $1,000 during that three week period, the child with T1D will have 20 entries in the drawing. The more money raised for T1D research, the greater the chance of a special Padre experience with Brandon Morrow. Click Here to Register for the One Walk.