WRAL’s Tar Heel Traveler Emcees Hope Gala for Juvenile Diabetes Foundation

WRAL-TV’s Scott Mason emcees the 2013 Triangle Hope Gala for the JDRF.

Kelly Greenlee and Susan Lundberg and their families have been impacted by type 1 diabetes. Kelly’s daughter, Allie, was diagnosed in 2006, and Susan’s daughter, Hayley, was diagnosed in 2012. They have been friends for a number of years and they now have a personal common goal …helping find a cure for juvenile diabetes! They were the co-chairs of the 10th Anniversary 2013 Hope Gala.

This event raises fund for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). The gala honored a couple of the top researchers in the Triangle, Dr. Christopher Newgard of Duke and Dr. Roland Tisch, of UNC. This isn’t your classic “Battle of the Blues” but a battle against life-altering disease.

JDRF uses its research leadership to bring about collaborations between top researchers like Drs. Newgard & Tisch to focus their energies on finding a cure for type 1 diabetes and its complications. JDRF provided $116 million to diabetes research in 2012, bring the cumulative total of research funding to more than $1.7 billion since JDRF founding in 1970.

WRAL-TV’s Clarence Williams (r to l); his daughter, Danele Nicole; WRAL-TV’s Phyllis Parish and her husband, Seab Howard, represent CBC at the Hope Gala.

Now back to Kelly and Susan. As co-chairs they wanted to find a dynamic person to serve as Master of Ceremonies. They wanted someone that was inspiring, witty and memorable. After careful soul-searching and consultation…one person stood out. It was WRAL’s own “Tar Heel Traveler” Scott Mason.

Kelly came to know Scott not just as a television personality and as a patient in her husband dental practice. In talking to Scott over the years, and reading his “dog-eared” book in the waiting room that he was special. Special not just because he has been a journalist for over 29 years, with three National Edward R. Murrow awards and 17 regional Emmys.

Scott was special because he understood what life is like with diabetes having been diagnosed just before his 22nd birthday. He has remained in good health and regularly plays ice hockey and tennis. Kelly and Susan asked Scott if he would serve as this year’s MC and by his excellent example…be a “Bloom of Hope.”

The 10th anniversary Triangle Hope Gala for the JDRF took place at North Ridge Country Club on Saturday, April 27, 2013. Capitol Broadcasting served as a sponsor for the event.

Thanks to WRAL-TV’s Clarence Williams for this capcom story & these capcom photos.