April 27, 2023 Giving back to his community

A few years before Duncan Kellie, then 59, took early retirement from his job at a fertilizer company in his hometown of Brandon, Man., he was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. He recalls, “I was a bit overweight, and thirsty all the time,” which is a common symptom of what, in his case, was high blood sugar. “When the doctor told me the news, it was a complete surprise. No one in my family had diabetes.” It was his doctor’s next words that really spurred Duncan into action: “He said that if I didn’t change my diet, my diabetes would get very bad.”

Doing his part

Quickly passing through the emotional stages, from shock and anger to denial, that many people feel after a diagnosis, Duncan went to the local branch of the Canadian Diabetes Association (CDA, now Diabetes Canada). After sharing his diagnosis with staff, he started taking diabetes education classes. “I changed my diet and a few months later went back and spoke to diabetes experts at the CDA and joined their diabetes peer support group.”

In addition to testing his blood sugar regularly and cutting out all sugars, Duncan became an active volunteer with Diabetes Canada and a part of his local diabetes community. He participated in awareness-raising events, including expos and educational walks, as well as being a door-to-door canvasser. “I enjoyed the activities and people and had a lot of fun while I learned and educated myself about living well with diabetes,” he says.

Duncan also started organizing events and garage sales in support of the CDA, and was the top local fundraiser for many years. In 2000, he began donating regularly in support of education and awareness for people at risk for diabetes, advocacy, and world-class research to improve treatments and find a cure.

In 2014, Duncan became the president of the Brandon and District Diabetes Peer Support Group, a group of which he was a member for more than 20 years. As president, he was responsible for arranging for guest speakers, such as pharmacists, optometrists, and diabetes educators, to talk to the group. “I have enjoyed helping others learn about diabetes,” he says.

Diabetes Canada’s former Western region community fundraising and events coordinator Doreen Landry agrees. “Duncan is an amazing gentle soul who is always ready to lend a hand. He wears his heart on his sleeve,” she says. “Over the years, I’ve gotten to know him very well and I know that anyone who has met him is better for it.”

Devoted to helping

As an only child, Duncan was devoted to helping his mother after his father died and supported her financially since she had no pension. She had Parkinson’s disease, and Duncan cared for her until she went into a nursing home and signed everything over to him, including the family house in which he continues to live. Today, at 84, Duncan is still finding ways to give back. He has been a regular donor to Diabetes Canada for more than 20 years and now, with no family of his own, he has decided to leave a legacy gift to Diabetes Canada in his will, which will help Diabetes Canada continue to support the 11.9 million Canadians living with diabetes. He says,

I decided to donate through my will because Diabetes Canada helped me learn and get my life in shape. I’m proud about what I’ve accomplished.

Kate Hicks, Diabetes Canada’s planned giving senior manager in fund development, says, “Duncan is an incredible person and should be proud of himself and all that he does in support of others living with diabetes. His legacy gift is just another act of generosity in a lifetime of giving back to others.”

Did you know?

May is Leave a Legacy month. Legacy giving is a way to leave a generous and lasting gift and support a cause you care about. Make Diabetes Canada an important part of your life story just as Duncan has. Visit Leave a Legacy for Diabetes Canada now to learn more.