JDRF One Walk will kick off its annual event in West Virginia on Sunday, May 15 at the Charleston Capital Complex aiming to raise more than $138,000 to help fund critically needed type 1 diabetes (T1D) research.
The event, organized by the JDRF West Virginia Branch, is expected to attract more than 1200 supporters representing local businesses, families, schools and other organizations. The event is one of more than 200 community JDRF One Walks nationwide that bring together hundreds of thousands of people each year who share JDRF’s vision to create a world without T1D.
“This is a great opportunity to get family and friends together whether you have type 1 diabetes, know someone who does or want to simply participate in an event that makes a huge impact on so many lives,” said Gina Frye, JDRF West Virginia Walk Chair. “Every walker and supporter will bring our community one step closer to turning Type One into Type None. We are grateful for the incredible support of the people of multiple counties across West Virginia, who make it possible for JDRF to direct even more funding toward important T1D research for the 1.25 million people with this serious disease.”
JDRF encourages people of all ages driven to support a great cause to participate in JDRF One Walk and enjoy a fun day with entertainment and food. On-site registration begins at 11 a.m. and the Walk will start 2 p.m. A donation is requested in support of research.
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a chronic, life-threatening autoimmune disease that strikes children and adults at any age. In type 1 diabetes, the body’s immune system destroys the cells that release insulin, eventually eliminating insulin production from the body. Type 1 diabetes requires rigorous 24/7 monitoring of blood glucose levels to avoid devastating complications. T1D onset is sudden and unpreventable and it is unrelated to diet or lifestyle.
JDRF One Walk is the largest and most powerful peer-to-peer fundraising program in the world for T1D, raising more than $68 million annually. Since 1992, the event has raised more than $1 billion dollars for T1D research. This funding has enabled the search to find ways of preventing, delaying or halting the progression of T1D, and ultimately curing it; and has led to, life-changing drugs, treatments and devices many of which have already moved into clinical trials and real-world testing.
