Rainy River boy speaks to others about being diabetic

Ken Johnston

At age 13, James McInerney of Rainy River is becoming quite an accomplished public speaker. On May 1st he spoke to the Canadian Diabetes Association’s annual convention in Winnipeg about his experiences at Camp Briar Dale.
The camp helps kids with diabetes learn how to better cope with the disease. McInerney discovered he had it when he was nine years old and now has to give himself insulin injections four times a day and closely monitor his blood sugar levels.
“A lot of diabetics have feelings of loneliness,” said McInerney. Camp Briar Dale helped him and others to overcome those feelings.
He spoke to the CDA about that experience at the camp and how he is now feeling more confident in his every day life.
He said he was a bit nervous speaking to the CDA but using a bit of comedy in his speech he found himself “warming up to the crowd.”
“The camp injects you with optimism,” said McInerney who harnessed that energy and put it to good use at the District French Speech Competition recently. He spoke again about his life with diabetes and won the competition. That earned him a trip to Toronto this weekend where he will speak in front of others and learn how to hone his public speaking skills.
His father, an area school teacher, has helped several students win the French speech competition. James’ sister Shauna also won it in 1998, but at that time there was no trip to Toronto. So James has decided to take his sister along as his chaperone.
He hopes that the experience in Toronto will help him next year when he hopes to compete again and if he wins will be the first person to do so two years in a row.
“I love making people laugh,” said McInerney, but he is not sure if his career will involve public speaking, but he is sure that performing in front of them will be a part of his life always.