Is there even a small plausible chance that someone my age (15) can start some kind of charity or foundation to raise money for diabetes research? I have no idea how to start up or even how to run one.

I'm sure it could be possible but I'm not expert on non-profits. I would start research what you would need to go about starting one. I only warn that it may become a lot more challenging then you would expect but it's always worth a shot! Your best bet is to probably looking into an already existing charity and become involved with that one.

 

wikihow's guide to starting a charity:

http://www.wikihow.com/Start-a-Charity

Speaking from the real world - No. You won't start a charity, sorry bud.

Do they even do diabetes research much these days?

 

Given that they known all the causes of it, how you can pretty much avoid it unless you inherit it and have easy day-to-day workable medicine for it?.

But Yeah odds of you starting a charity on your own are pretty slim, the only charities that really get off the ground these days are the ones where some media grabbing parents are milking the fact their kid was shot or misdiagnosed and died and thus manage to pull in volunteers and a fair bit of start up cash to form a charity.

Usually you require quite a bit of funding, years of research, planing etc before you can create one. ReachOut! is a non-profit company to raise awareness to young aussies that there is help out there and give help on finding it. Our CEO baws Jack, if I remember correctly, took him 5-7 years of planning before Inspire (ReachOut!'s a sub-branch to it) was first created.

 

It's not impossible, but it does take a lot of time, effort and dedication.

Maybe you could help an existing diabetes research foundation. They're probaly always short of volunteers, so instead of putting lots of effort into making your own foundation, you could always help one that has already started.

I'd say offer to help out JDRF or the ADA, depending on what you want to help with. JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, http://www.jdrf.org ) looks for a cure (specifically for type 1) and some 95% of the money raised goes straight to research. The ADA (American Diabetes Association, http://www.diabetes.org ) works more on advocacy, they run camps for kids and work to lessen discrimination against people with diabetes.

 

Why are you looking to start one? Is there not one active in your area? Because then you could work with JDRF to start one near you.

 

Do they even do diabetes research much these days?

 

Given that they known all the causes of it, how you can pretty much avoid it unless you inherit it and have easy day-to-day workable medicine for it?.

But Yeah odds of you starting a charity on your own are pretty slim, the only charities that really get off the ground these days are the ones where some media grabbing parents are milking the fact their kid was shot or misdiagnosed and died and thus manage to pull in volunteers and a fair bit of start up cash to form a charity.

YES. They don't know all the causes of it, they have no idea why your body attacks itself, they have lots of theories but no specific reason. Insulin is not a cure, and genetics is only a piece of the puzzle.

Alright thanks guys