As the warm weather begins to hit Fairfield, what better way to enjoy the arrival of spring then to get outside, hang out with our friends, and make a difference in our community all at the same time?
Thanks to the Senior Class Council, we will all have the opportunity to do exactly that. The Senior Class will be hosting an on-campus walkathon in support of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation on Wednesday, April 21.
Registration will take place that day from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the Barone Campus Center, which will also be the start and finish of the three mile walk around campus. The event is open to all who would like to participate.
Senior Class Council President Lauren DeSteno is in charge of the organization of the event.
“I have been involved with the foundation for the past 12 years,” said DeSteno.
“My cousin is 17 and has had the disease since she was two, so I’ve had a first hand experience of how important it is to find a cure for diabetes,” she said.
Students’ reactions to the event have been overwhelmingly positive.
“I think the walk is a great opportunity to raise money for a great cause,” said Jessica Dillon, ’04. “What else do I have to do on a Wednesday afternoon?”
With over 30,000 people diagnosed with juvenile diabetes each year, students have the opportunity to raise both money and awareness for people suffering from the disease, including those members of our university who are affected.
“There may be students in your class who suffer from the disease, and you are unaware of their situation,” said DeSteno. “This is a great way to offer these students our support.”
“My mother has diabetes, so I have grown up watching her daily routines,” said Brian McIntosh ’04. “I am really excited to raise money that will go towards finding a cure for her as well as for all the others who suffer from the disease.”
The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation was founded in 1970 by parents of children with diabetes. Juvenile diabetes, also known as Type 1 diabetes, is the most severe form of the disease (See “A Quick Education on Diabetes,” below).
In the United States alone there are about 206,000 people under the age of 20 who have juvenile diabetes, with an additional 5.2 million estimated to be undiagnosed. Juvenile diabetes is believed to be caused by environmental and genetic factors, not by eating excessive sugar or obesity.
While any amount of money that students can raise will be welcomed, those who raise over $30 will receive a free t-shirt, and the student who raises the most money will be rewarded a prize.
Students who knew of the fundraiser shared DeSteno’s enthusiasm for getting involved and giving back to an important cause.
“I went out and bought new running shoes for the walk,” said Hallie Ross ’04. “I was hoping that they would turn it into a road race, so I could really show my support.”
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