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Two downcounty residents are celebrating their fifth year raising money for diabetes research and awareness through a unique fundraiser — a charity dodgeball tournament.

Inspired by the 2004 movie "Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story," Bethesda resident Anna Tiedeman Irwin and Chevy Chase resident Elizabeth Kramer launched the "Dodging Diabetes" event after watching both of their younger brothers struggle with Type I diabetes. Irwin, a 1996 Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart graduate, and Kramer, a 1995 Holton-Arms School graduate, connected when their mothers met at a diabetes fundraising event. The two decided they wanted to do something a little different to raise money and awareness about the disease.

"The movie had just come out, and I had this idea — what if we could do a dodgeball tournament, something everyone could participate in with no skill required?" said Irwin.

The first tournament drew about 15 teams and raised about $4,700 for the Joslin Diabetes Center. This year, with the help of a newly re-designed Web site and social networking sites Facebook and Twitter, the event drew 34 teams and raised close to $15,000. The tournament took place March 20 at the Champions Fieldhouse in Rockville.

According to Irwin, the tournament aims to raise money for the cause, raise awareness about the disease, and to educate people about what it means to live with diabetes. Reflecting on watching her brother Andy, 28, prick his finger five times and day and struggle to regulate his blood sugar, Irwin said, "Diabetes is a disease you can manage, but it's like having to be on a diet your whole life and never getting a break."

Irwin said she also hopes to dispel the stereotype that diabetes only affects those who are inactive or overweight.

The event is one way to appeal to a broader range of people who may be younger and not have a large amount of money, Irwin said. The majority of contributions to the cause come in the form of smaller donations, she said.

"It's really blossomed into this amazing community event," Irwin said. To learn more about the Dodging Diabetes tournament or to donate to the cause, visit

www.dodgingdiabetes.org.

Caring au pairs make

Build-a-Bears

Montgomery County and Prince Georges' County au pairs recently took part in a charity event to benefit children at the Children's Inn at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda.

Au pair agency AuPairCare, which has placed 30,000 au pairs from over 40 countries with families across the country, has teamed up with Build-A-Bear Workshop stores across the U.S. in an effort to have their au pairs build bears for children's charities.

Here in Maryland, au pairs made bears to be donated to the Children's Inn. The event took place March 19 at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. It drew au pairs to stuff and name teddy bears for sick children at the Inn. The au pairs also created individual cards in their native languages, passing along their well wished to the recipient of the bear.

Hunt for treasures in Kensington

Historic Kensington Row, featuring antique and specialty shops, will host its annual sidewalk sale and garden party April 17 and 19.

Merchants will be selling vintage and antique garden and home furnishings both in their stores and along the sidewalk. Along with patio, porch and garden furniture, the sale will feature vases, garden ornaments, speing linens, pottery and decorative pieces.

Free lemonade and snacks will be available for treasure hunters. The shopping area begins on Howard Avenue in Kensington, and stores are also located on nearby Armory Avenue, Fawcett Street, and Montgomery Avenue. For more information, visit www.KensingtonAntiqueRow.com.

Let's toot his horn

David A. Somers, son of Karen Templeton-Somers and Scott Somers of North Potomac, recently performed on horn with the Symphonic Wind Ensemble at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, where he is a sophomore majoring in physics. 

Somers, a graduate of Quince Orchard High School, joined the ensemble on a number of musical pieces for winds, including Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's "Serenade No. 10, composed in 1783-84; Giovanni Gabrieli's "Sonata Octavi Toni a 12," composed in 1597 and John Cage's "Six," composed in 1991.

Kudos

Rachel Sachs, daughter of Howard and Tricia Sachs of Chevy Chase, was nominated to the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. She made the dean's list at the University of Delaware and is a member of the sorority Alpha Delta Pi.

Submit your artwork

PNC Bank in Potomac will host its first art exhibition featuring two-dimensional art. Artists are invited to submit their artwork to compete for awards. The theme is Potomac Landscapes — art focusing on the images and scenery inspired by Potomac. The competition is open to all ages and it limited to work that is 12 inches by 12 inches. The deadline to apply for the competition is April 15, and an awards ceremony and reception will follow April 30 at PNC Bank. For an application for the competition, e-mail narinamine@hotmail.com.

A reminder

The Kensington Volunteer Fire Department is reminding residents of the best ways to help rescuers help you. For rescuers, finding your home — especially at night — can be challenging if house numbers are unreadable, hidden, unlit or have missing numbers. These scenarios can all delay emergency response. In order to help rescuers fine your home quickly, keep these tips in mind:

-House numbers must visible from the street. County code requires numbers to be at least 5 feet high.

-Numbers should be placed on a contrasting background, with a reflective coating on the numbers for visibility at night.

-Prune bushes, tree limbs or other growth that covers house numbers.

-Numbers should be placed on or beside the front door if the door is easily seen from the street.

If you have questions or would like more information, contact the Kensington Volunteer Fire Department at 301-929-8000, or visit www.kvfd.org.

Performing across the globe

North Potomac native Kyle Greaney, a junior at Lynchburg College in Virginia, joined 17 other Lynchburg College students who performed at the International Schools of China 2010 Choral Festival in Tianjin, China March 25-26. The program allowed the students to study abroad in China, take master classes and explore historic resources like the Great Wall and the Forbidden City before the performance. Congratulations!

Attention, Kentlands shoppers

Whole Foods Market at 316 Kentlands Blvd. will host 5 percent Day on Wednesday, April 7, for the Kentlands Community Foundation, a nonprofit based in Kentlands that serves the greater Gaithersburg community.

The grocery store will share 5 percent of the day's net income with the foundation. Former NBA star Tony Massenburg, who plans with former NBA Coach James Lloyd to bring a new upscale restaurant called Tony and James to Kentlands in mid-April, will work the lines as a celebrity bagger.

Start making those shopping lists!

Jump on the train!

The Bethesda Big Train baseball team will soon be arriving in town for the summer season! The team, which features collegiate athletes from schools country-wide, plays throughout June and July at the Shirley Povich Field in Cabin John Regional Park. But the athletes need homes for the summer! Organizers are asking for Potomac and Bethesda families to host an athlete from after Memorial Day through the end of July. Hosting an athlete can be a great opportunity for families with young children interested in baseball or attending the Big Train baseball camp. To learn more about hosting, contact Jami Deise, Host Family Coordinator, at 301-379-9145 or e-mail faninfo@bigtrain.org. For more information, visit www.bigtrain.org.

Kentlands community garden

Kentlands begins its Earth Week green-up on Saturday, April 17, with a ribbon-cutting at the Kentlands Community Garden being cultivated now at a grassy space directly behind the Kentlands Arts Barn, 311 Kent Square Road, and the Kentlands Mansion carriage house.

The organic community garden includes a dozen 4-feet by 8-foot plots, Kentlands Community Foundation Director Bridget Ryder said. Resident gardeners for each plot have already started digging. Some are planting vegetables and flowers, others are sowing vegetables only.

A clean-up will run from 9 a.m. to noon.

The City of Gaithersburg, which with Montgomery County Cable Television will film the debut of the garden, is providing rakes, gloves and pick-up sticks for those who want to help, Ryder said.

Interfaith Works, a county coalition of more than 165 nonprofits that helps to feed and clothe needy residents, will accept donations of new and gently used clothing and house wares during the clean-up, Ryder said.

The Kentlands Community Foundation, The Kentlands Citizens Assembly, The Kentlands Garden Club, Whole Foods Market in Kentlands, Standard Solar, Leader Homes, Hallco Enterprises Inc., Arbor Landscaping, Mike Fers, Lisa Carothers, Friends of the Foundation, the Driscoll family, the Stavitsky-Zeineddin family, Sarah, Madeleine and Kyla Clarke, and Mike and Ruthzaly Weich sponsor the garden.

Church luncheon

Youth for Christ of Montgomery County will host its annual luncheon at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 25 at the Gaithersburg Hilton, 620 Perry Parkway. This event includes a buffet, ministry updates and teen testimonies. The public is invited.

Admission is free. To attend, call the Youth for Christ office at 301-519-9020.

This column is for you! Send items to Erin Donaghue via e-mail at edonaghue@gazette.net, fax at 301-670-7183 or snail mail to 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, MD 20877.