Petawawa’s Ruby Pilatzke receives prestigious Terry Fox Humanitarian Award
Petawawa teen Ruby Pilatzke is one of 16 students to receive the prestigious Terry Fox Humanitarian Award for her work with juvenile diabetes. There were over 700 applicants.
Valued at up to $28,000, the award recognizes young humanitarians who have demonstrated courage and determination through academics, athletics, and civic life.
“It feels surreal,” said Ruby. “To have my name tied to such a Canadian hero is indescribable. It is such an honour and I still can’t believe I have been selected.”
When Ruby was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes as a young child, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation helped her so much she is devoted to giving back.
As a youth ambassador, Ruby has raised over $25,000 for diabetes research, advocating in her own community through bottle drives, bake sales, direct canvassing, and most recently, virtual events during lockdown.
Notably, last year she raised $7,000 through a “fundrazor”. Her brothers had agreed to shave their heads if they could raise $5,000. Each person who donated was entered into a draw for a $50 gift certificate to the salon or barbershop of their choice.
“I was so surprised with how successful it was,” said Ruby.
Though things were more difficult because of COVID-19, she never stopped fundraising.
“I do it because diabetes doesn’t stop just because we’re in a pandemic,” said Ruby. “It’s a disease that we have to manage 24/7 with no days off so fundraising doesn’t get stopped either.”
Ruby also supports the Candlelighter’s Childhood Cancer Support Program, and is co-president of the student athletic council at her school. In the fall she will be attending Nipissing University with hopes of graduating in education and becoming a high school math or science teacher.
The 17-year-old was first diagnosed in 2013. It changed her whole world as she found herself learning to deal with a chronic, incurable disease. She had to learn new ways to keep herself healthy. Yet even with this medical challenge, she doesn’t let it control her life. Instead, she’s decided to fight it not only for herself, but for others who may find themselves struggling to cope, and has poured herself into this cause.
“I don’t want any more kids diagnosed with a disease that affects my life every second of every day,” said Ruby.
But no matter what her future holds, her fundraising efforts will continue: “Should a cure for diabetes be found,” Ruby says, “I want to be able to say I was part of the solution.”
Her suggestion to other kids and teens receiving this diagnosis?
“My advice would be to not see diabetes as a negative,” said Ruby. “Yes, some days it sucks. But you’re so much stronger because of it. It’s its own super power in so many ways only Type 1s will understand. And you are more than your disease. Never forget that you are greater than your highs and lows.”
About the Terry Fox Humanitarian Award: The Terry Fox Humanitarian Award was established in 1982 to honour and advance the humanitarian legacy of Terry Fox – one of Canada’s most recognized heroes. The scholarship hopes to encourage young Canadians to seek the high ideals which Terry Fox aspired to through the pursuit of higher education. To see a full list of award recipients, visit www.terryfoxawards.ca.
