It’s March, which means a few things: It’s now Autumn in Australia; Easter eggs are flooding supermarket shelves; and Spare A Rose is over for another year.

I am very, very rarely lost for words. I usually have a lot to say (even if I’m the only one who want to hear it). I can speak underwater. But throughout this campaign there has been moment after moment where I have been rendered speechless as the generosity of people has been on display. No one has made a big deal about it – they have just wanted to contribute to a campaign because they could and they understood its importance.

This year, we really took Spare A Rose back to the community where it all first began. We wanted to use that grassroots support from people who truly comprehend what it would mean to not be able to easily and affordably access insulin and diabetes care. All funds raised by Spare A Rose – every last cent – goes towards Life for a Child to improve access to young people living in places where it is difficult.

Last week at ATTD, every time someone spoke about #SpareARose, those around them listened and then asked how they could help. Individuals with diabetes, diabetes on- and offline community groups, people from other diabetes organisations and industry stepped up to make donations, share information, spread the word.

Our community was stronger and louder than we’ve ever seen for this campaign and as more people got on board, we kept wondering just how close we’d get to that aspirational target we’d set – $50,000. It seemed impossible when first suggested on a conference call – almost as a whisper because it seemed so audacious.

We shouldn’t have underestimated the diabetes community, because not only did they reach it, they smashed it.

We got a wee bit silly and pulled the #SpareAFrown stunt, hoping to get a little attention and a few donations, but actually it blew up. (I think Grumps is a little scared of what he’ll be asked to do next year to encourage donations. Suggestions welcome. Pink tutus have already been proposed.)

The money raised means that nine hundred and thirty nine young people with diabetes will be provided with life-saving insulin for a whole year. When all is said and done, that is all that matters.

Thank you to everyone who supported #SpareARose in 2019. We will be back in 2020 bigger and better. The plans already being hatched have one goal only: more roses spared; and many, many more lives saved.