FORTY FORT, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — A local garden center in our area is stepping up to help support and find a cure for type 1 diabetes.
It’s all smiles walking through a haunted corn maze at Edward’s Garden Center in Forty Fort.
The attraction is part of the shop’s kiddie play area that opened last year, where for just nine bucks you can have fall fun but also contribute to research into type one diabetes.
“We have seen tremendous strides in helping to manage the disease and they’re really looking for a cure and I truly believe they’ll find it someday,” said Ed Kopec, owner, of Edward’s Garden Center.
Kopec’s son Jim was diagnosed more than a decade ago with the disease.
“The doctor called us at four in the afternoon on a Friday and he said, ‘I need you to get Jim to Geisinger in Danville as quick as you can. He said don’t get in an ambulance, but plan on staying for about three days,” said Kopec.
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When his grandson Nolan later received the same diagnosis, they decided to open the play area to raise funds during October and team up with a non-profit to spread awareness.
Last year, the Garden Center raised more than $9,000 for Breakthrough T1D. This year, they have a goal of more than $14,000 with just ten days left.”
“We had a woman who came in last week and she gave us 50 dollars. She said last week that her 15-year-old granddaughter was just diagnosed,” said Kopec.
Kopec says the support from the community has been astounding.
“It’s life-altering. It is,” Kopec continued “It’s very important to us and we want to see everyone that’s inflicted with this. We just want to find a cure.”
Edward’s Garden Center has raised just over 10,000 dollars so far to help find a cure for type 1 diabetes.
The shop on River Street is open seven days a week if you’d like to stop by and donate. You can visit them online on Facebook and you can make a donation here.
