Diabetes walk will give funds to research
Walkers will do their part to help find the cure for juvenile diabetes on Saturday at Savannah Rapids Pavilion.
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The second annual Aiken/Augusta Walk to Cure Diabetes is an all-volunteer event that raises money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International, which was founded in 1970 to find a cure and relieve complications associated with diabetes.
"November is National Diabetes Awareness Month, so we figured that was kind of good timing to kick off the month," said Gretchen Daly, a co-chairwoman of the walk.
Registration starts at 10:30 a.m., and the walk starts at 11:30 a.m. Walkers are to meet at the three new pavilions near the Augusta Canal Headgates, where the walk of about 3 miles will begin.
A Medical College of Georgia team will be on site to conduct a diabetes research study, Daly said.
Box lunches and water will be available for participants.
Also at the event, an area will be set up with activities for children.
During last year's walk at Fort Discovery, more than 300 walkers representing 30 teams raised about $40,000.
Daly, whose 8-year-old son was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes when he was close to 2 years old, is confident those numbers will increase this year.
"This year, we're on pace to do much better than that," she said. "I'm hoping to do at least double those numbers."
Daly said she would like to see each walker raise $100. Each person who does so will get a free T-shirt.
Monetary donations will also be accepted during the walk.
The need for a cure remains, Daly said, with more than 450 children with juvenile diabetes in the Augusta area being treated at MCG alone.
"Unfortunately, the need is still great, and we haven't found a cure yet, so until we do we'll be out here every year," she said.
Daly encourages those interested in participating to register at www.walk.jdrf.org.
For details, call Daly at (706) 955-8232.
if you go
What: 2010 Aiken/Augusta Walk To Cure Diabetes
When: 11:30 a.m. Saturday; registration starts at 10:30 a.m.
Where: Savannah Rapids Pavilion
More: Call (706) 955-8232