Jan 11, 2013

Introducing BHS Central CA Chapter Luminary Stacy Anthony




We recently launched one of our most important pieces of advocacy work yet—our Luminary Program. A Blue Heel Society Luminary is an advocate in the war against diabetes who uses his or her fabulous blue shoes to speak volumes about diabetes awareness. With the Luminary Program, we turn the advocacy over to you and support you doing it *your* way. We do this by providing a Shoebox full of tools to help Luminaries operate a local Blue Heel Society chapter of their own.

A Luminary is an advocate, a delegate, in the war against Diabetes. We choose to use apparel, our fabulous Blue Shoes, to speak volumes about Diabetes Awareness. You can host an event, about anything, and wear blue shoes simply to advocate for those people affected by Diabetes.

Be it a Book Club meeting, Pet adoption day, Church function or a Diabetes-specific event, you can advocate for people who live with or care for someone with diabetes, simply by wearing a blue shoe in “your” fashion. 

Regardless of what your passion is, we want to empower community leaders to use the Blue Heel Society as a platform to promote those causes and interests, all the while showing support and raising awareness about diabetes, in arenas formerly thought of as unreachable or unrelated. 


We asked Stacy a few questions to introduce herself. Here's what she had to say:

BHS: Connection w/ diabetes? 
SA: My son Ryan was diagnosed Type 1 in Sept. He was 4 years old at the time. 

BHS: General geographic location
SA: Central California  

BHS: What blue shoe (Heel, sneaker, riding shoe, etc.) suits you & Why?
SA: There is something about a pair of heels that makes me feel powerful,
although if I could find a blue pair of Converse I'd wear them everyday.

BHS: What does advocacy mean to you?
SA: Advocacy means I can give diabetes a voice, raising awareness, and letting others know. I pray that there will be a cure so that one day my son and others like him won't have to live with this disease.

BHS: What are some of your goals as a BHS Luminary?
SA: I want to start a support group. Our hospital isn't equip to treat juveniles with diabetes so they have to be sent hours away. There is no form of support for them or their families. I would also like to organize an event to raise awareness and money for JDRF.

BHS: Words of wisdom/encouraging statement/general statement about diabetes?
SA: I've learned from watching my son these last 3 months that even when things get tough you have to keep going. You can't dwell in the bad or you won't even see the good. When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. When life gives you diabetes add some splenda and keep going!

Please join us in welcoming Stacy to the BHS Family. If you live in Central California and would like to get more information, you can Contact Stacy via email

If you would like to become a BHS Luminary, you can fill out the Application HERE , or via the 'Luminaries' Tab at the top of the page.