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Game with a heart

Support Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation on May 5

By Dee Henry | Hickory Daily Record

Published: April 28, 2009

CONOVER - When Certain Teed holds its golf tournament fundraising for juvenile diabetes May 5, a familiar face will be in the crowd.

Over the five years of the tournament, 9-year-old Chase Hedrick has been at most of the events. The reason may not be evident by looking at the healthy child who is quick to say soccer is his favorite sport.

But Chase has been dealing with Type I diabetes since he was diagnosed at 11 months old.

"It's changed our lives," said Chase's father, Bobby. "Everything we do, we do for a reason."

Bobby Hedrick is referring to the regimented schedule required by Type I diabetics, ruled by checks of blood glucose levels and insulin shots. While the Hedrick's schedule is still tight — Chase has to check his blood sugar level five times each day, a fairly new treatment option has allowed them a little leeway.

"Now he's on the pump, so he has a little more freedom," Bobby Hedrick said.

Chase was diagnosed after being hospitalized for an infection. The nurse on duty put a urine collection bag on Chase, though it wasn't required, and found his blood sugar to be high. So far, Chase, Bobby and Debbie Hedrick's middle child, is the only one diagnosed with diabetes, although family members have an 8 percent chance of being diabetic.

Chase has two siblings, 12-year-old Peyton and 2-year-old Jadyn.

Brian Hardy said support of the event, always paired with a walk, has remained strong despite the economic downturn. Hardy, the chairman of the Diversity Council of Certain Teed, the group that started the tournament, thinks it's because the effort Certain Teed employees put behind the fundraising.

"This is the biggest fundraiser we've ever done. This is where everybody's focus is," he said.

Hardy said the event started with the walk, but at a certain point, the event wasn't raising any more money. The golf tournament was begun two years after the walk and was a success from the start.

"Last year, we had two employees to raise $500 themselves," he said.

This year, 15 employees are playing in the tournament.

And while Chase looks at the tournament as fun — he usually gets to hand out things, such as peanuts or T-shirts — Hardy said Chase gives the annual event some stability.

"With some fund raisers, people don't necessarily see where their money goes, but Chase is at our tournament every year," Hardy said. "People can see him and realize this is what we've done and it's because of what you did to help us."