Minooka softball team to raise money for JDRF

This year, the Indians figured they would give hosting a shot.

On May 8, Minooka and Plainfield South will take part in a fundraiser called "Scoring Runs for JDRF" in an effort to help battle Type 1 (Juvenile) diabetes. Proceeds will benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Both the Minooka varsity and junior varsity teams will play on adjacent fields, with the games beginning at 4:30 p.m.

"The girls really love it. It gets fans out," Minooka coach Mark Brown said of playing in a charity game. "It's for a good cause and we just wanted to host one this year."

When Minooka decided that it wanted to host a charity game this year, Brown approached assistant coach Amy Saelens about what the program should raise money for.

Saelens, 33, has been a Type 1 diabetic since she was 19 years old, and thought it would be a good idea to raise money for JDRF.

"Type 1 diabetics have to be constantly aware of what their blood sugar is, it depends on activity, food you eat, time of day. ... Everything effects your blood sugar and you don't even realize it," Saelens said. "There's just a long list of things that can go wrong with your body. It's something to be constantly aware of that most people don't know that Type 1 diabetics are going through."

Each of the previous games Minooka has participated in have raised money for cancer, and Brown thought it would be a good idea to raise money for diabetes.

"I approached Amy about it and I knew she was a diabetic," Brown said. "Everyone's been doing the cancer one, how about we do one for diabetes? She loved it and ran with it."

The Indians' goal is to have each player raise $100 for JDRF. Each player can go online and become part of the event, and send their own personal link to friends on Facebook and Twitter asking them to donate. Brown said he has recommended going door to door and having teachers donate as well.