How to sum up Denver’s 29th Carousel Ball?
Superlatives like “glamorous” and “star-studded” work just fine.
But for those whose lives have been touched by diabetes, the best part of this benefit for the Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes wasn’t just the chance to see NFL Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway and his wife, Paige, receive the 2015 High Hopes Tribute Award and enjoy a show featuring 16-time Grammy winner David Foster, Usher, Ruben Studdard, Kelly Levesque and the Forte Tenors.
It was hearing Barbara Davis herself say that the $1.3 million raised by the 1,200 guests will bring researchers one step closer to finding a cure.
Already, she said, the center that she and her late husband, Marvin, founded after their daughter, Dana, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes some 40 years ago, is helping Stanford University develop an artificial pancreas that will help diabetics better manage their blood glucose levels.
Dana, interim executive director of the Children’s Diabetes Foundation, and her boyfriend, Shane Hendryson, chaired the black-tie gala that also saw attorney Steve Farber receive the 2015 Founder’s Award.
“When Barbara says there’s going to be a cure, there will be,” Farber said.
Usher’s interest in the Barbara Davis Center stems from the fact that his son, Usher Raymond V, was recently diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. The youngster helped launch the evening’s program by delivering the blessing.
