Recap of the JDRF Walk in Gulfport

Team Live-abetes before the walk.

Mary and I participated in the JDRF Walk for a Cure in Gulfport, MS last Saturday. This was the first walk for both of us and we had a great time! Our team, Live-abetes, was able to raise about $700 for the JDRF, and we are very appreciative of our generous benefactors. Overall, the event raised a little over $15,000.

In addition to raising money, the Walk provided an opportunity to meet with other persons and families affected by type 1 diabetes. A total of 17 teams participated in the walk. One team was a corporate team, and 14 of the remaining 16 teams had a newly diagnosed person with diabetes. I always read about how children are being diagnosed at younger ages, but my experience at the Walk brought this fact to light. Many of the newly diagnosed persons I met were under the age of 10-years-old. Some were diagnosed as young as 18 months! It was heartbreaking to see young children who will never remember a "normal" life without the disease. I came away from the event very grateful to have been diagnosed at the age of 14/15 (two days before my 15th birthday), which provided me the opportunity to have a normal childhood eating birthday cake and playing sports without a care in the world; but, more resolved than ever to assist the JDRF in finding a cure.

A special thank you to the gals from the JDRF Mississippi chapter in Jackson who worked hard to organize the event.