At the age of 9, Amy Rogers, medicine and biology junior, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, a disease affecting more than 3 million Americans. She said she does not think people really understand what it is like to have diabetes. “In class, I would have to eat cookies if my blood sugar was low,” she said. “People did not understand why I had to, and if I was moody – you feel outcasted.” More than 1,500 people gathered at the University’s Old Front Nine, located at the corner of Nicholson Drive and Nicholson Drive Extension, on Saturday morning for the eighth annual Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Walk to Cure Diabetes. Mainly dependent on volunteers and family, people come together each year for the event to raise money for research. The walk raised $191,000 this past year. This year, the walk was expected to raise an estimated $230,000, said Danielle Graham, special event coordinator for the JDRF Baton Rouge branch. Graham said the four walks in Louisiana are projected to raise about $1 million. Graham said it is a celebration for fundraising. “Eighty-six cents of every dollar goes to research,” she said. “We turn in the money and know we are making a difference.” Rogers said her father’s company raises money each year. She said she tries to convince people to walk at least one lap to raise money. “I want people to be educated about it,” she said. JDRF’s mission is to find a cure for diabetes through the support of research. Founded in 1970 by parents of children with Type 1 diabetes, JDRF has 250 international walk sites. According to the American Diabetes Association, 20.8 million Americans have diabetes while about 6.2 million are unaware they have it. Type 1 diabetes is a chronic disease that can lead to heart disease, blindness, stroke and kidney failure. Commonly diagnosed in childhood, a daily routine for a person with Type 1 diabetes includes testing blood sugar level, snacks in between meals and taking multiple insulin injections daily. Kerri Michael, history senior, said she could not imagine giving herself shots every day. Michael was at the walk with co-workers from Ninfa’s Mexican Restaurant. She said the restaurant raises money for the walk each year. “We ask tables if they want to donate money to support the cause,” she said. “We present the money at the walk, but I came out this year to experience it too.” Graham said this year was particularly special because the University Laboratory High School class of 2008 came together to walk in memory of one of their classmates. Megan Bella, political science senior, said her brother Brad died from undiagnosed diabetes at age 11. She said he would have graduated next spring. His classmates formed a special walking team to honor their classmate. LSU basketball coach John Brady attended the walk with basketball players. Brady said it was a good way to raise money for a cure while walking in memory of Brad Bella. “JDRF is a great cause,” he said. “Hopefully there will be a cure for the disease one day.”
—-Contact Natalie Messina at [email protected]