Walkers seek cure for Type 1 diabetes

For The Herald

While walking is a part of everyday life, citizens of Lethbridge were walking with purpose at the Nicolas Sheran Park Saturday morning.

The community got together to walk in effort to raise money for Type 1 diabetes for the 25th consecutive year.

Amy Smart, event co-ordinator, says the walk will go a long way to helping people out across the globe.

“We do these events to help with community engagement,” said Smart. It’s great to get all the kids with Type 1 in an area where they don’t feel alone and all the money raised goes towards research for finding a cure for Type 1.”

Along with the walk, the day also incorporated diabetes cameras, a pet parade and Boston Pizza on site to supply the walkers with food.

According to Smart, the goal for this year’s walk was $23,000 and she figured they were going to reach that goal.

She says the support she has gotten from the community has been nothing short of spectacular.

“We love coming out to Lethbridge. It’s always great, everyone gets involved in the day and just loves to support Type 1 diabetes,” said Smart.

The walk for Type 1 diabetes ranges across the nation, with over 40,000 people being expected to partake in this year’s event.

Dave Prowten, president and CEO of JDRF Canada says with all the current fundraising, a cure could be closer than expected.

“In the last decade, there have been some incredible advancements in the areas of encapsulation, transplantation, stem cell therapies and artificial pancreas research that have helped us move even closer to a cure,” said Prowten.

Since the first Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation walk, the organization has raised over $135 million for T1D research, and this year’s walk will only help improve those numbers.