Every year, over 180,000 Americans die due to complications with diabetes. It affects over 16 million people in our country and over 100 million people worldwide. It is the leading cause of blindness, kidney failure, peripheral vascular disease, peripheral nerve and autonomic dysfunction, amputations, and many other health problems. Every year, more people die from diabetes than breast cancer and AIDS combined.
Like many Americans, I was unaware of the intricacies of this disease until I saw how it affected the person I love most. As the husband of a type-1 diabetic, I witness the challenges my wife faces on a daily basis. Terms like "having a high" and "suffering a low" have become part of my permanent lexicon. I have been introduced to a world of needles, insulin pumps, and blood glucose meters. Experiencing her struggles and her triumphs has shown me just how much I take for granted.
November is National Diabetes Awareness Month. Our goal is to bring attention to diabetes through literature, and to implore fans of Epic to consider donating to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) during this very important month. Because of the JDRF, diabetics have a network of international support and an organization dedicated to confronting and conquering this disease. There are two ways you can help.
First, you can go to www.jdrf.org and donate to the JDRF's fight for a cure personally. Just click on the "donate now" tab located at the top-right of the menu. You can give any amount you wish as either a one-time donation or a monthly commitment. No amount is too large or too small—every bit goes toward finding a cure.
Fans of the Epic series will have another option. In honor of this important month, 60% of Epic's November sales will go directly to the JDRF. Every book purchased will assist in the cause. If you know someone who might be interested in the Epic series, there is no better month than this one to get them to jump on board. They will be joining a good cause and discovering a new science fiction series at the same time.
The goal is awareness, whether through literature or personal charity. What's important is that people take action. Diabetes is a devastating disease, but one we are on the brink of curing. Please join us in this effort to raise awareness and make a difference!
If you donated because of this message, whether by contributing on your own or by purchasing a book, please let us know! We would love to know how much we were able to raise through this effort. I would also love to thank you personally for joining the fight. I can be reached at lee@epicuniverse.com.
Thank you so much for your time.
Sincerely,
Lee Stephen
Author, Epic Series
www.epicuniverse.com
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