The Humboldt and District Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation hosted the JDRF Telus Walk to Cure Diabetes on Jun. 12 to great success as there were 130 walkers who raised $35,250.
Humboldt and District JDRF walk committee member, Maria Strasser says that they could not be happier with how the day tuned out.
“It was a little bit slow to start off with but the registrations came in close to 11 o’clock and we’ve just had a fantastic turnout and the weather was great.”
The walk started at the Humboldt Uniplex and made it’s way 5 km around town before ending up back at the Uniplex where a barbecue lunch was waiting the walkers.
The walk is a fundraiser for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, which looks to raise money to help cure, better treat, and prevent Type 1 diabetes.
Before the event kicked off a pair of children with diabetes took centre stage to discuss their lives as diabetics.
Chloe Dreger was this year’s walk ambassador and was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in January 2015. Dreger says that it was important for her to be the ambassador because she wants to do her part to help raise money to find a cure.
Chloe says she was really happy to see all the walkers show up.
“It’s really touching because they believe in a cure too, they just don’t live with it. They raise money for a cure...when I get a bit older then I can not be a diabetic and maybe have a cure hopefully.”
Chloe says that despite being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes she has not noticed a dramatic change in her life.
“I just have to take insulin and take my sugars regularly so it hasn’t really affected my life that much.”
Chloe’s mom, Cindy, was also at the walk and says for her it is more difficult to see her daughter being diagnosed and going through ups and downs.
“She’s had to change the eating and the constant poking the fingers and you’d like to make it go away and you can’t.”
Cindy says as time has gone on she has gotten used to it a little more but credits Chloe for handling things very well.
“I have four kids but if there was one child that could handle it, it would be her. She’s very strong willed. She’s a really strong girl and she’s growing into a really strong teenager. We’re very proud of her.”
Hailey Stumborg also gave a speech during the event about her experiences getting her service dog Quatchi to help her keep track of her sugar levels. (Stumborg’s full story is available in the Feb. 17 edition of the Humboldt Journal or online www.humboldtjournal.ca/1.2174684)
Strasser says it is important to host a JDRF walk because it is a disease that affects many families in the Humboldt area. It is a great way for families to network and to come together to help raise money for a common goal, she says.
In addition to the great support the walk saw from walkers, Strasser says they also received great support for the corporate community and estimates that 1/3 of the money raised comes from corporate sponsorship.
“We’ve got the Humboldt Fire Department here, we’ve got the JCI’s here, we have a bunch of companies that came out to sponsor and to walk so as a representative of a family with somebody with type 1, the support from the city has been just fantastic.”
Volunteers also played a big role in helping make sure the walk was successful and Strasser estimates there were between 15 and 20 volunteers who took part from start to finish.
“The volunteerism and the people taking the time out to come and help today is just fantastic.”
