Peterborough Petes To Host Diabetes Awareness Night For Nov. 24 Game

The Peterborough Petes are hosting a Diabetes Night to raise funds and awareness of the disease for their Nov. 24 game against the Sudbury Wolves announced at the Peterborough & District Sports Hall of Fame on Wednesday.

Peterborough Petes goaltender Michael Simpson (left); Travis Vaughan, Tandem Diabetes Care territory manager and Morgan Blaind, Petes coordinator, marketing and community engagement (right). Simpson was diagnosed with Type-1 diabetes since h was three years old. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The game is in partnership with Tandem Diabetes Care that will aid affected children and send them to D-camp, a two-week overnight camp for children with diabetes. The initiate was introduced by Petes goalie, Michael Simpson, who was diagnosed with Type-1 diabetes since he was three years old.

When Simpson was growing up, he looked up to NHL player Max Domi during his stint with the London Knights and also was diagnosed with Type-1 Diabetes. The Petes goaltender wants to be a role model for local communities with his story.

“Seeing him thrive, get drafted to the NHL, now he's playing in the NHL, see how he had diabetes and that it didn't stop him, seeing it motivated and that's something I want to bring to the Peterborough area,” said Simpson. “They might not want be a goalie in hockey, they may want to be a soccer player or something that they're dreaming of being. I want them to be able to look at my story say, 'I can do this.’”

Anyone can donate in-person at the game or online. The game will feature a silent auction for a game-worn Simpson jersey and a chuck-a-puck, with all proceeds going towards D-Camp registration fees.

“We’re very excited for Michael,” said Morgan Blaind, Petes coordinator, marketing and community engagement. “When he approached me to help him with this initiative, I knew we had to make his vision a reality.”

“Michael has led the way on this the whole way through,” Travis Vaughan, Tandem Diabetes Care territory manager. “It’s for a great cause in Diabetes Canada and D-camp and we’re really happy to support that. We’re really excited about the game.”

Fans are encouraged to wear blue on game night — as it’s the official colour of Diabetes Month — where the arena will be lit in the same colour in honour of the cause.

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