Joe's Story
 Type 1 Diabetes is a disease that strikes ANYONE at ANYTIME especially CHILDREN. It is a silent killer affecting every organ system. Insulin doesn't cure the disease nor prevent the development of complications. It is a daily struggle for diabetics to control their blood sugar levels, manage their insulin intake, food intake and normal exercise routines.
More than 2 million Canadians suffer from some form of diabetes. This year Canada will spend approximately $15 billion dollars on diabetes-related costs. Canada has one of the highest rates of Type 1 diabetes in the world and over the past 10 years that number has been rising by over 3% per year. We have one of the lowest rates of government support in the world and we house the leading researchers…the Edmonton Protocol is an example (islet cell transplantation) 60 out of 500 have been performed in Canada. Only 15 per cent of Canadians surveyed ranked diabetes first on the list of life-threatening illnesses even though it is the most fatal and kills more people each year than AIDS, breast cancer and lupus combined.
It is Canada's leading cause of death by disease.
While only 6% of Ontario's population is diabetic they account for 43% of heart failure cases, 30% of strokes, 51% of new dialysis patients, 70% of amputations and 32% of heart attacks. It was the last statistic that claimed the life of Joe McMahon.
Joe who passed away on March 12th, 2004 was a loving husband, father
of young two boys and a new baby girl born on September 17th, 2004...6 months
after his death. Joe was energetic, humorous, kind,
generous - an all round great guy. He played hockey and touch football in men's
leagues to keep up his fitness. He observed a strict diet and diligently tried
to control his blood sugars by monitoring his glucose levels 4 times daily.
He visited his endocrinologist regularly and she was impressed by his level
of health and control over his diabetes. Joe's main aim in life was to stay
healthy and remain on this earth to watch his children grow up and spend time
with his wife. Unfortunately for Joe, his diabetes controlled his destiny.
August 16th, 2007 will mark the 4th annual Joe McMahon Memorial Golf Tournament. We look forward to making a difference in the fight for a cure for this terrible disease by continually raising money for the Joe McMahon Memorial Research Fund (held by the Canadian Diabetes Association through Team Diabetes) and a portion of the tournaments proceeds to the McMahon-O'Neill Trust Fund (a fund setup to provide money for the future education of Joe's children).
To help us with this cause please register for or sponsor the tournament!
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