It took Sherry Dillane two and a half hours to get to Coplay.

She made the trip Sunday in order to attend a basket social at the American Club of Coplay Pavilion. It was organized to raise funds to purchase a Diabetic Alert Dog for Whitehall resident Matthew Globosits, 15.

"It's well worth it," Dillane said about the trip. She actually had never met Matt's parents, Cindy and Bill Globosits, until the event. Members of the two families knew each other only through Facebook, where they cross posted about Type I diabetes and Diabetic Alert Dogs.

Dillane brought along her diabetic son, Deven Rusnak, and his Diabetic Alert Dog, Blaze.

"It was great because it shows people the dog," said Matt's dad, who is a Coplay Borough police officer. "They more or less get an idea of what this is about."

"[The] event would have been successful without [Blaze]," Dillane said, but added that having the dog there allows Matt's supporters to see what their money will buy.

Dillane and her son have had Blaze only since August. Training a Diabetic Alert Dog means exposing the animal to many different situations, making the basket social a good experience for everyone, she said.

As more than 100 people milled around the pavilion, Blaze lay on a blanket on the floor next to Dillane and her family and friends. Deven was outside with other youth.

Throughout the afternoon, people walked up to Blaze to greet him, giving Dillane the chance to explain how Blaze helps her son – and how Matt will benefit from his dog, which he expects to get in June.

Cindy Globosits said she was excited to find out Saturday night that Dillane would be there.

"I was literally jumping up and down," she said.

Dillane said she believes it's important to support others who have experienced what she and Deven have endured. She also felt the distance from their home in Bayville, N.J., was doable for an afternoon visit.

A Diabetic Alert Dog comes with a $26,000 price tag, which is the reason the Globosits family needed to hold the basket social. Information on diabetic alert dogs was posted on a table, along with T-shirts and sweatshirts for sale. Food was also available.

The afternoon was made complete with a visit from a local celebrity. Keith Moyer – a Whitehall resident and part of the WZZO Bearman and Keith morning show – called the winning ticket numbers for the approximately 100 basket prizes.