For the second straight year, North Battleford will host a Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation TELUS Walk to Cure Diabetes.
This year's walk will take place Sept. 30 at the Battlefords Wildlife Federation Nature Centre, with walk registration taking place at 10 a.m., the walk starting at 11 a.m. and a barbecue lunch at noon.
Type one diabetes is a non-preventable autoimmune disease that strikes children and adults suddenly and lasts a lifetime. The disease, unlike type 2 diabetes, cannot be prevented by diet, exercise or medication, and requires constant blood testing and regulation. Though insulin is used to treat it, it is not a cure and does not prevent the eventual complications.
The walk is a fundraiser for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, the leading global organization focused on type 1 diabetes research. Since its founding in 1970, it has awarded more than $1.6 billion to diabetes research globally.
"Type 1 diabetes is an extraordinarily challenging disease," said Andrew McKee, president and CEO of JDRF. "The number of children living with this continues to increase by three to five per cent annually. Striking suddenly, it's a devastating diagnosis for the whole family, which is why the TELUS Walk to Cure Diabetes is so significant.
"Every dollar raised moves us even closer to achieving our mission of finding a cure for type 1 diabetes and its complications."
The Battlefords will join more than 70 other communities across the country in participating in the walk, aiming towards the fundraising milestone of $7.9 million.
Anyone interested in participating in the walk is welcome to register individually, in a team of family and friends or as organizational teams. To sign up, contact Sherry Buckler, Fundraising and Development Co-ordinator, JDRF Saskatoon Chapter at 981-2927 or 314-9533.
