by Sarah DeMaranville

At first glance, it looked simple.

Pennies on Monday. Nickels on Tuesday. Dimes, quarters, and finally dollar bills.

But inside Geneseo Middle School, this wasn’t just a coin drive—it was something much bigger.

It was a week built by students, for students, with a goal that went far beyond fundraising.

From Idea to Impact

The “Defeat Diabetes” fundraiser didn’t come from a template or a pre-packaged program.

It started with a conversation.

Pictured left to right: Jessica Jansen, Dru Weinzierl, Allison Bos, Simon Jones, & Brad Monier. Contributed photo

Last school year, school nurse Jessica Jansen worked alongside students living with Type 1 Diabetes and their families to create something meaningful—something that would not only raise money, but also build understanding.

And that’s exactly what happened.

Each morning during announcements, students and a teacher living with diabetes took the mic—not to promote the fundraiser, but to educate their peers.

They explained what Type 1 Diabetes actually is.

They broke down what daily life looks like.

And they made something invisible… visible.

What Students Learned (That Most Adults Don’t Know)

Throughout the week, students shared real, practical insights—things many people never fully understand about Type 1 Diabetes.

It’s not preventable—and not caused by lifestyle choices
The body can no longer produce insulin, which is essential for survival
Every meal requires calculation, monitoring, and often insulin doses
Blood sugar is affected by everything—food, activity, stress, illness, even temperature
Devices like insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors help—but require constant attention

As one announcement explained, managing Type 1 Diabetes isn’t occasional—it’s constant.

Every snack. Every drink. Every day.

More Than Awareness—It Changed Behavior

The impact didn’t stop at education.

It showed up in the hallways.

Students began checking in on their classmates with diabetes. Friends started asking, “Do you need anything?” Peers learned how to respond in real-life situations—like recognizing low blood sugar and knowing to grab juice or a snack.

That shift—from awareness to action—is exactly what Jansen hoped for.

Her goal wasn’t just to teach facts.

It was to help students look beyond themselves—and understand what others are navigating every single day.

The Results: More Than Anyone Expected

By the end of the week, students and staff had raised:

$1,424.30

But the story didn’t end there.

A local family stepped in and matched the total
A substitute teacher, inspired by a former student with diabetes, donated an additional $200

Bringing the final total to:

$3,048.66

The top fundraising class: Mr. Monier’s 6th grade homeroom.

Second place went to Mrs. Schmidt’s 7th grade class.

But the real win went far beyond any classroom.

Where the Money Goes

All proceeds support Breakthrough T1D, a national organization focused on funding research and advancing technology to find a cure for Type 1 Diabetes.

Many Geneseo families, students, and staff are already connected to that mission—participating each year in the Breakthrough T1D Walk in the Quad Cities.

This fundraiser simply strengthened that connection.

Why This Matters

Schools teach math, reading, and science.

But weeks like this teach something different.

Empathy. Awareness. Community.

And maybe most importantly—perspective.

Because for students living with Type 1 Diabetes, there is no “off” switch.

And now, an entire school understands that just a little bit more.