Hampstead woman honoured for decades of diabetes research fundraising

Gov. Gen. Mary Simon has honoured a Hampstead woman with the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers for her decades of fundraising efforts for diabetes research.

Suzanne Reisler Litwin has been fundraising for more than 40 years in support of an organization called Breakthrough T1D and its work to cure Type 1 diabetes.

“You give, and that gives you an amazing feeling,” Reisler Litwin says.

Four decades later, she keeps her approach to fundraising fresh, with many creative campaigns. Reisler Litwin’s efforts have raised more than $650,000, and that accomplishment has led to an even bigger goal.

“I think in terms of, can we just cure diabetes? We won’t have to do this fundraising anymore. But if we don’t, my goal, my actual goal is to get to $1 million,” she told CTV News.

Her dedication caught the eye of Gov. Gen. Mary Simon, who awarded Reisler Litwin with the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers. Reisler Litwin was shocked, calling the experience, “pretty exciting.”

Adamant the honour isn’t hers alone, and is shared with her supportive team, it inspired the title for this year’s fundraiser theme, “You deserve a medal.”

Reisler Litwin said the campaign is a play on words and is a tribute to heavy metal music, but emphasizing that the award is thanks to her community. She explained that the spelling error was intentional: “I was driving the car and I’m listening to Bon Jovi and heavy metal and then all of a sudden it was like, this is it, heavy metal, D and T and I can’t spell,” she joked.

The philanthropist isn’t shy to poke fun at herself, while acknowledging her support system for this year’s campaign. Even her mother is featured in one of the two posters.

“May I mention the fact she’s 91 and she’s completely game to do this?” she said proudly.

Reisler Litwin’s team, “Suzie’s Sweethearts,” hopes to raise $50,000 for the “Breakthrough T1D walk,” coming up in June.

She said making a difference together is the ultimate prize.

“Doing what we do definitely brings together a community of people who all want to make the world better.”