VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT

Richard Jones

Real Stories About Real People

Putting the Volunteer Spirit to Work Keeps the Dedication Behind the Mission   

Richard Jones has type 1 diabetes.  He came into contact with the American Diabetes Association in 1969 when he went on insulin.  He became amotivated fund-raising volunteer in 1992 when he attended a diabetes support group from the Good Samaritan Hospital in Mount Vernon, Illinois.

His grandmother went on insulin in the 1930s. He also has a sister, a cousin and two uncles on insulin.  He feels very lucky to have his wife’s dedication to ensure that he had quality meals by weighing his food during the early days of his disease.  Today, Jones still counts his calories and has managed his hypoglycemic episodes numerous times with his wife’s help.

He remembers with clarity the time when a long-time friend’s phone call saved his life. Marilyn Dorn, who has been their family friend for more than 40 years, called one day and noticed immediately that Jones' responses were slower than normal and his speech sounded garbled during their conversation.  She recognized the symptoms of hypoglycemia and called 911.

Sharon Capps, Associate Manager in the St. Louis Area comments, “Richard is one of our most active volunteers here in the Gateway Area.  He has participated in several events, but he is best known for the golf events.  He is a huge advocate for ADA and is always at work to raise money.  This man is an inspiration and a fantastic volunteer for the Association.”

Jones grew up on a dairy farm where he had to milk the cows morning and evening every day of the year.  He says the happiest day of his life was going off to college where he met his wife. He put his dairy life behind him when his job took him all across the country.  He is proud to say that he and his wife have traveled by car on vacation in all 50 States and have visited 65 countries after retiring in 1991.  His goal is to visit 100 countries.

Becoming an ADA volunteer was his next challenging adventure.  In the beginning, Jones was challenged with approaching people for donations.  A dedicated ADA Executive Director, Donna Scott of Greater Illinois area motivated Jones to fund-raise to a point where he was able to hold a “Golfing for Diabetes” event in 2006.  He asked people to pledge per hole of golf or by donating money.  In Mount Vernon, a county of 40,000 people, the event brought in a total of $33,400.  In 2006, he played 135 holes before being stopped with muscle cramps.  This year, he once again tied his past two years’ record by playing 162 holes in one day.  Jones is retired and, at 71 years young, has played charity golf for ADA for the past seven years.  He tries to play golf every day and finds it the “perfect” exercise for people with diabetes.

He said, “The same principles apply to volunteering as they do to any successful ventures.”  He volunteers a minimum of 10 hours a week and stands by his belief that the key to finding a cure is by funding research.  He truly believes in the desire to support the cure, care and commitment that is behind ADA’s mission.

Send feedback to volunteerupdates@diabetes.org.