Mark Sanchez, quarterback for the New York Jets, is helping the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) try to win $100,000 in grants as part of the Pepsi Refresh Project, an online campaign to fund programs that will have a positive impact on people’s lives.

Mark Sanchez

Voters can go to http://www.nfl.com/pepsirefresh and vote for Sanchez, or text ‘MARK’ to PEPSI (73774). Voting ends at 12:01 a.m. on Feb. 5, 2010.

If Sanchez outpolls other Pepsi Refresh Project sponsors, the funding will help JDRF establish a nationwide program to educate people about the symptoms of type 1 diabetes – the most severe form of the disease – and get medical care before suffering the life-threatening short-term complications of high blood sugar. Symptoms for type 1 or juvenile diabetes can be mistaken for common illnesses, such as the flu, and if left untreated, even over a very short timeframe, can be deadly.

“I want to help establish a much needed, nationwide educational program with JDRF to ensure that the warning signs of type 1 diabetes will become household knowledge for medical personnel, parents, teachers, and friends,” said Sanchez. “Then, a quick and accurate diagnosis can be made and proper treatment given before it results in a life threatening situation.”

In addition to Sanchez, quarterback Drew Brees and linebacker Demarcus Ware are also participating in the Pepsi Refresh Project challenge

“We’re honored to have Mark Sanchez in the vanguard of our efforts to help save lives and eventually find a cure. Mark is an outstanding example of leadership on and off the field, bringing attention to a problem that can have an enormous impact on the 15,000 children diagnosed with type 1 diabetes annually – that’s 40 children a day,” said Alan J. Lewis, Ph.D., the President and CEO of JDRF. ”

All forms of diabetes are clearly on the rise, but the sad fact is that type 1 diabetes is far and away the most prevalent form of the disease affecting children, and so we are also grateful to the Pepsi Refresh Project Challenge for investing in a program that will positively impact so many lives.”

Michael Silver, the award-winning columnist for Yahoo! Sports whose cutting-edge NFL coverage entertains millions of readers annually, has signed to participate in the Audi Efficiency Challenge. The competition begins today in Washington, DC and concludes in Miami in time for Pro Bowl on Sunday.  Michael and his team will be driving the Audi TDI Q7, Audi’s clean-burning diesel sport utility vehicle.

The Audi competition, is not a typical race to the finish.  Instead, the winning car will have completed the trip with the most fuel efficiency.  Typically the drive for most of us from DC to Miami takes about sixteen hours.

The winner will be announced at an event hosted by Audi on Friday, February 5, 2010, at the W Hotel in South Beach, Florida.  At that time Audi will award the winning prize of $20,000.  Michael Silver has decided to donate his prize to two type 1 diabetes nonprofit organizations that, in his words “play noble roles in coping with and attempting to cure the condition that affects my 10-year-old son and as many as 3,000,000 Americans” that live with type 1 diabetes.  The two organizations are the Diabetes Youth Foundation of Concord, CA and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Bay Area.

You can follow Michael’s progress on Twitter and read his Yahoo! Sports column.  Mike plans to use his driving time to generate awareness of type 1 diabetes and encouraging others to make donations by providing opportunities for people to help.

Michael says he would love to hear from you while he competes “on fuel efficiency, roadside attractions between D.C. and Miami and potential CD selections. And, we can also talk football.”

More on this competition as it progresses.  For now, donations may be made to JDRF by visiting curetype1.org/ridewithsilver.  Good luck!  Drive slowly.  Remember to fill your tank only when it needs filling, if at all!

Thank you for selecting JDRF as your beneficiary.