Fired Up Tailgate raises $1,000 for Children’s Diabetes Foundation

Fired Up Tailgate: Ken Castaneda, Catherine Highland, Rob Garner

Fired Up Tailgate has raised $1,000 for the Children’s Diabetes Foundation of Denver. The funds will go to the CDF’s Helping Hand and Helping Little Hands program which provides financial support during pregnancy for women with Type One Diabetes. 

The funds can pay for prescription diabetes supplies such as insulin, needles and test strips; doctor appointments, emergency care and transportation – everything needed to support a woman during pregnancy to ensure an outcome with a healthy mother and baby. 

“It’s an honor to be supporting the Children’s Diabetes Foundation,” said Fired Up Tailgate organizer Ken Castaneda. “With Type One Diabetes, it is not known what causes the disease and there is no cure at this time. Most newly diagnosed cases are in children which is why this disease is also known as juvenile diabetes.” Castaneda’s son was diagnosed with Type One Diabetes five years ago at age 11.

The Fired Up Tailgate organization has a motto of “Tailgating for the Community.” They support several local charities during football season and throughout the entire year. Fired Up Tailgate presented a check for $1,000 to the Children’s Diabetes Foundation on Jan. 21 at their offices in the Denver Tech Center.

“We are proud to run a charity tailgate during home Denver Bronco games that gives back to the community,” said organizer Catherine Highland. “We want to thank the generous fans who attend the tailgate during Bronco games. Most of our financial support goes to children’s charities like the Children’s Diabetes Foundation. We also support The Ronald McDonald House and Hope Kids Colorado.”

One of Fired Up Tailgate’s founding members, Rob Garner, has been nominated to be in the Ford Hall of Fans. He is a firefighter for the City of Fort Collins and drives a 1976, orange fire truck to all Bronco home games. People can vote for Rob daily at this link: www.fordhalloffans.com/football.

Bronco fan Clayton Spears was the winner of the Phillip Lindsay portrait