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The JDRF Promise Ball is coming up in just a matter of two weeks! I can't believe it's already here. I don't feel prepared at all. Sure, I've been fundraising for months and getting all that in order. But the rest of me isn't prepared to take a night to remember diabetes for the past year of my life.

Last year's Promise Ball was absolutely amazing. I took three of my friends with me; we got to dress up, valet park my car and eat a fancy dinner. As amazing as it was, it still brings me to tears today (almost one year later). Because the most amazing part was seeing how much was raised in one single night to find a cure for diabetes.

There were dozens of donations presented by people who didn't blink an eye when they asked for $10,000, $20,000 and $50,000 donations. One person paid $22,000 for a vacation...all of that money went to find a cure. When they start rattling off the starting bids and you see the numbers start climbing, it hits you. This money, some in unfathomable amounts, is going towards a better and brighter future for ME. It's going to help find a cure in my lifetime, for me, and for the millions of diabetics around the world.

So with all that commotion, you can understand why it's an emotional roller-coaster of a night when you attend these sorts of events. You're elated that you get to spend a great evening with your friends recognizing a daily battle in your life, but you're also reminded every where you turn that this is a real thing. This disease is real beyond measure in my life. And I'm just not sure how prepared I am to be in that room again with those types of donations and those types of people.

I've raised enough for two tickets at the moment. And I'm looking to raise enough for at least two more. Fundraising has been extremely difficult this year considering all of the economic consequences of the recession. Last year, I quickly raised $2,000 for the ball. This year, I'm struggling to make the $1,000 mark. That struggle adds a completely different aspect to this year's Promise Ball.

Will the donations be fewer this year? Will there be less tickets over all? When I walk into that room, will I be amazed at how few people were willing to sacrifice their Starbucks to give to find a cure? I definitely understand some people just aren't in the place to give in the amounts that economic stability allows, but I'm also biased. I know that a cure is so much more important than the fleeting gratification of new clothes or new gadgets or whatever else people waste money on. But that's me...it's my battle and I know that a cure might just save my life from being torn apart by this disease.

I hope that I'm pleasantly surprised at how many people sacrificed this year. I hope that others will give even more because of the need. I hope that we can raise enough to get steps closer to ending this battle. I hope that people, myself and my friends included, recognize the importance of the night as a fight for a cause and not just a fun night on the town. I just hope for a cure.