Thousands Walk for Type 1 Diabetes Cure

Thousands of walkers representing families, schools, local corporations and other organizations aren’t clowning around by participating in the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Michigan Great Lakes West Chapter’s annual Walk to Cure Diabetes, though they may look a little silly. This year’s walk is circus themed with the title “Under the Big Top” and those partaking will be wearing colorful t-shirts designed with animals, acrobats and the like.

The Chapter’s annual walk will take place in two cities on Saturday, September 14: Downtown Grand Rapids and Jackson at Ah-Nab-Awen Park and Ella Sharp Park, respectively. The walks will start at 10:00 a.m. with on-site registration beginning at 8:30 a.m. Money raised during the walks goes to research to find a cure for type 1 diabetes (T1D) and its complications.

Aside from walking on the day of the event, corporate sponsors and generations of families and friends coming out to participate spend months fundraising for the Walk to Cure Diabetes. These individuals – many of whom are affected by the disease or who have direct ties to T1D – come together as a community to raise awareness to stop the suffering of nearly three million Americans from T1D. The Great Lakes West Chapter’s fundraising combined goal for this year’s walk is $525,000.     

 “JDRF is beyond appreciative of the corporate and individual support we receive during our annual Walk to Cure Diabetes,” said Julie Gross, of the Michigan Great Lakes West Chapter. “The commitment of local businesses and families enables us to accelerate and continue research to find a cure for those dealing with type1 diabetes and its complications. This community’s dedication year after year is a true testament of the generous nature of West Michigan residents.”

Annually, more than 500,000 people “walk for a cure” hand in hand with JDRF. Two-hundred locations worldwide hosted walks last year, raising $85 million to support diabetes research and research education.

Local JDRF Walk Sponsors include: Alro, Classing Tuning, The Craft Agency, Curtis and Curtis, Dematic, Eaton, Farmers Insurance Group, Gerdau, Gold Wing Road Riders Association, Heeren Brothers Produce, Old Orchard, The River 100.5, Spectrum Health, United Bank of Michigan, and Wolverine World Wide.

About JDRF

JDRF is a leader in setting the agenda for diabetes research worldwide, and is the largest charitable funder and advocate of type 1 diabetes research. The mission of JDRF is to find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research. Type 1 diabetes is a disease which strikes children and adults suddenly and requires multiple injections of insulin daily or a continuous infusion of insulin through a pump. Insulin, however, is not a cure for diabetes, nor does it prevent its eventual and devastating complications which may include kidney failure, blindness, heart disease, stroke, and amputation.

Since its founding in 1970 by parents of children with type 1 diabetes, JDRF has awarded more than $1.7 billion to diabetes research.