They came out in large numbers last weekend for the 21st annual Walk to Cure Diabetes. The largest fundraiser for the Greater Blue Ridge Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, the local JDRF has helped raise some of the $1.7 billion that has been contributed to Type One diabetes research by the JDRF nationally over the past 43 years. This year’s event last weekend took place in front of the Virginia Museum of Transportation, with music, food and educational booths, much of it geared towards children, explaining how diabetes affect people’s lives.
Teams raised money for their 1 or 3 mile walks, which ended with a catered lunch behind the museum. Joyce Constant, a Carilion hospital administrator in Lexington, took part with her team for the first time. She was a captain in fact: “its nice to be a team player for a great cause.”
Before they took off, Garnett Smith, the 2013 Honorary Walk Chair and former CEO of Advance Auto Parts, talked about the 20-year relationship between Advance and the JDRF. Nationwide, the Roanoke-based aftermarket parts supplier has raised $37 million dollars for diabetes research over the past two decades.
After participating locally the first time, with Roanoke employees only, “we decided to do it company-wide.” That’s also when Advance stores started selling those dollar placards that people can purchase at their stores. “I’m so proud of all the things that [Advance employees] do,” said Smith, “they do so many wonderful things…to give back to the community.”
Andrea Micklem, a teacher at Community School, pointed to a number of booths designed to educate children about diabetes – the fun way, with a Children’s Corner. “The pancreas is the offending organ that doesn’t work when you have diabetes,” Micklem pointed out. A mannequin demonstrated how an insulin pump works; an exercise that showed kids how to balance sugar and insulin drove home the point.
Insulin-dependent Type 1 diabetes is more genetic and metabolic; Type 2 is the kind associated these days with juvenile diabetes, often caused by eating the wrong foods and poor lifestyle choices. “[Type 1 diabetics] have to have insulin [and] count their carbohydrates,” said Micklem. “Its really hard to manage – you have to know what your blood sugar is all the time.” In some cases Type 1 diabetes can show up when there is no genetic history of the disease in the family.
At one booth the snap of a rubber band on the wrist let visitors know how painful insulin shots can be, especially if given multiple times in a day. Several people at Community School are affected by Type 1 diabetes, so this service project really hit home for students and faculty there.
Charlotte Kidd, executive director for the Greater Blue Ridge Chapter, estimated that the annual walk has raised close to 9 million dollars over the past twenty years. She expected almost 1500 to register for this years walk. “This has made all the work worthwhile.”
The other large fundraiser for the local JDRF chapter is a spring gala. “This is really a celebration,” said Kidd, “especially for our families with type 1 diabetics. They come out and see all of the other families that have a child with the same type of chronic disease. Its really very supportive.” Kidd has a personal link to Type 1 diabetes – her father suffered from the disease. “I grew up with diabetes my whole life.”
Kidd, who did a 100 mile bike trek through Death Valley last year, isn’t averse to the idea of adding a 5K run to the JDRF walk in the future. In any case she was pleased with the outpouring of support: “the community really does come together. Most of the time anyone will come out and help you – if you ask.” Kidd hoped to raise more than a million dollars from walkers and sponsors from the 21st annual Walk to Cure Diabetes. (See jdrfgreaterblueridge.org for more information)
By Gene Marrano
