Local restaurant supports diabetes research

HuHot Mongolian Grill in Kalispell was fired up for a recent fundraiser April 2. 

The local restaurant generously donated 100 percent of the entire day’s proceeds to the Junior Diabetes Research Foundation, a global organization that specifically funds research to find a cure for Type 1 diabetes.

Marilyn and Keith Armstrong had read about the upcoming event in the Inter Lake and decided to take their grandkids out to eat. One of the children has diabetes and they wanted to support the event. The restaurant was packed when they got there but volunteers were everywhere helping to seat people and keep everything running smoothly.

“HuHot does care,” the Armstrongs wrote in their email to the Inter Lake. “One hundred percent is a very generous contribution. Thanks for stepping up to the plate for a great cause.”

This is the third consecutive year that HuHot has partnered with the Junior Diabetes Research Foundation to raise money, said Curtis Wagner, HuHot’s director of operations.

In previous years, HuHot had held smaller, more frequent Helping Hands events to raise money for the foundation and various nonprofits. Now that the restaurant plans one major fundraiser a year, it donates 100 percent of the event’s profit to that organization. 

HuHot began the larger annual donation and awareness event for the Junior Diabetes Research Foundation three years ago after Mike Hammer, sports director at KOFI Radio, and his wife Shana shared their story. The Hammers’ two sons Taite and Trevor both have been diagnosed with Type I diabetes — Taite just before his second birthday and Trevor just after his third. Taite is now 8 and Trevor will be 5 next month.

“It’s great to be a part of this,” Wagner said, “and see what a difference this community can make. It’s not about HuHot, it’s about raising awareness about the far-reaching scope of this childhood disease.”

Between the dining receipts, the $2,000 raised from the raffle of prizes donated by many area businesses and Edgerton School’s Dimes for Diabetes Awareness fundraiser, the Hammers were able to present a check for $13,756 at the Foundation’s annual Walk to Cure Diabetes April 12 in Missoula. 

In July, brothers Taite and Trevor will represent the state of Montana — joining 150 other youth who have been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes — in Washington, D.C., to tell their stories before Congress in the Congressional Chambers.

“Three million Americans are affected by this disease and 15,000 children and 15,000 adults are diagnosed every year. That’s 80 people a day.” Hammer said.

“We’re not only happy about the amount of money we raised to fight this disease because we’re personally affected, we’re so happy about and constantly amazed by the generosity of the people here in the Flathead.”

Community editor Carol Marino may be reached at 758-4440 or by email at community@dailyinterlake.com.