Since that day, Lindholtz, an Evangelical Covenant Church pastor, and his wife, Alicia, have worked to find a cure for the condition, also know as Type 1 or juvenile onset diabetes. A week ago, they raised nearly $1,800 through a first-ever benefit in honor of Miles, who turns 10 in November. Admission was free with a tax-deductible donation for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund (JDRF).
“It’s hugely gratifying to know that people have such generous and loving hearts,” Rick says.
The entertaining event featured a pediatrician, who also performs as a magician; a comedian; and Rick’s band – The Guys Here – which performed classic rock and country music (accompanying photo). Miles’ pediatrician presented information about diabetes.
Over the years, Rick and Alicia have raised thousands of dollars by participating in the annual walk to benefit JDRF. Still, they are not content. “We wanted to ramp up our fundraising,” Rick explains. “Alicia and I looked at what can we do and said we’re pretty good at throwing parties. We can throw a big party.”
The idea began to come to fruition when the couple met the comedian at a friend’s party five months ago, Rick says. The performer agreed to appear free of charge.
Evidence of God’s participation in the planning was clear, Rick says. He points to the major feature the local newspaper published about Miles and the event. To read more of the promotional material, please see Smiles for Miles.
While newspaper writer Susan Meinholz was putting together an article on the pediatrican-magician, Dr. Hy Penn, she saw a flyer for the event and thought the benefit would make a good story. As she was pitching the idea to her editor, a woman called the newspaper to ask if they had heard about the event. That convinced the journalists to do the story, Rick says.
Roughly 1.7 million Americans suffer Type 1 diabetes, which accounts for 10 percent of all diabetes cases. The experience can be trying for the entire families, but Alicia told the paper that the children are an inspiration.
“Rick and I belong to this select club we would rather not be a part of,” Alicia said. “There are a lot of kids in Kingwood who have diabetes. Most people don’t know what they go through. These kids are our heroes. They are awesome.”
The search for better treatments and a cure continue to make headway, but still much work needs to be done, Rick says.
“When Miles was diagnosed, his endocrinologist told us that anything he taught us then would be obsolete in five years – which it was,” Lindholtz recalls. “He also told us that whatever he taught us in five years would be obsolete in 10 years.”
As for the future of the fund-raising benefit, Lindholtz says, “We already envision doing this next year, and people have already come up to say, ‘How can I help make this an even better event next year?’ ”
For more information on the benefit, email Lindholtz or call the church at 281-360-7936. More information on juvenile diabetes also can be found on the JDRF Website.
