Olney Lions carry forth Scout’s legacy of kindness

This is the story of how one good deed – one very good deed – often inspires another.

Conor Pugh was 14 when he received the diagnosis that he had Type 1 diabetes.

“It was a lot to figure out,” he said.

He had to come to grips with how to move forward on this new journey.

Like others with Type 1 diabetes, his life became a daily – sometimes hourly – struggle with controlling his blood sugar, taking insulin as many as six times or more a day, and staying positive in the face of a life-changing diagnosis.

The Life Scout with Scouts of America Troop 264 decided he would make the arduous journey through Type 1 diabetes easier for other students who were diagnosed with it.

As part of his Eagle Scout project, he created 60 “diabetes kits” filled with some of the essentials: an insulin cooler, medical ID bracelet, a sharps disposal container for storing used needles, a water battle, glucose tablets, a calculator, educational materials to help others adjust to a diabetes diagnosis and the shoulder bag that carries the equipment.

Some 55-60 students in Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) each year have Type 1 diabetes.

He was 17 and just finishing his junior year at Sherwood High School when his first kits were ready to distribute through Montgomery County Health and Human Services school health nurses.

At that time, Conor said he felt “very special” to be able to help other people.

The kits, he said, will allow other students to get the information and “tools” earlier than he did and perhaps make it easier for them.

His parents, James and Jeanne Pugh of Brookeville, set up a GoFundMe page for the initial contributions to create the kits.

They were hoping to get support from service organizations and others in the community to create enough kits for each MCPS student each school year.

That hope became a reality.

When the Olney Lions Club heard about Conor’s very good deed through a story in The Greater Olney News in June 2023, members immediately wanted to help.

Diabetes is also a Lions International focus addressed by Lions worldwide. The newspaper article prompted the Lions Club of Olney to contact Conor and ask him to attend a meeting to talk about his project. His presentation was enthusiastically received, and the Lions decided that night to adopt the project to continue Conor’s work,” Lion Paul Hawkins said.

They called the project “Conor’s Kit.”

The Olney club contacted Liz Elliott, nurse administrator for School Health Services in Montgomery County, who worked with Conor on his Eagle project, and she was enthusiastic about the Lions continuing the project, Hawkins said. She agreed to assist the club.

Since the project entails all the public schools in Montgomery County, the Olney Lions approached the other Lions clubs in the county and in no time had commitments from the other 10 clubs, Hawkins said.

The Lions then approached MedStar Montgomery Medical Center to describe the project. MedStar Montgomery accepted an offer to partner with the Lions and Conor’s Kits.

More and more kindness.

Lions from the Olney, Sandy Spring, Laytonsville, Colesville, Montgomery Central-Derwood, Damascus, Rockville, Takoma Park, Leisure World and Monocacy clubs gathered Sept. 23 at St. John’s Episcopal Parish to assist the Scouts of Troop 264 with packing the kits that will be given to students in county schools.

They packed 60 sling bags with items to be distributed to students newly diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.

Connor’s father stood in for his son, who is now a student at Temple University.

Jennifer Smith, vice president of Philanthropy represented MedStar Montgomery.

District 14 State Sen. Craig Zucker, along with Lions District 22-C Governor Rodrick Harris, joined the assembly line with the Scouts and Lions.

Elliott and Beka Urgess, senior administrator for School Health Services, represented the county.

The kindness spawned by Conor’s good deed has grown.

And it doesn’t end there. A model of the Conor’s Kits programs will be created to encourage other clubs in Lions District 22-C — which includes Prince George’s, Charles, Calvert and St. Mary’s counties, in addition to Montgomery, and the District of Columbia — to get involved.

The Lions could be invited to attend the State Teachers Conference next year to raise awareness of the project outside of District 22-C.

Lions International Headquarters in Oak Brook, Ill., was briefed on the project, and Lions in New Your State and Virginia already have expressed interest in adopting the program.

“It is very gratifying to see the way that our Lions embraced Conor’s Kits,” Hawkins said on Sept. 23. “MedStar Montgomery’s participation is a bonus that we did not initially plan for in the project. Tonight it is amazing that we are able to meet at Conor’s troop and conclude our effort to prepare these kits with the assistance of the Scouts. Lions, MedStar and Scouts make a powerful team. We will now turn the kits over to the county and start preparing for next year, while exploring options to export the project to other areas.”

During a press conference in June last year, MCPS honored Conor for his very good deed.

Soft spoken and humble, Conor vowed to continue to be the very positive face of Type 1 diabetes.

“Without a doubt, Connor, you have made this your superpower,” Sherwood school nurse Irene Gumucio told him.