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Wet Start Can't Slow Down Diabetes Fundraising Efforts
By Jo Ann La Russo
 | | Despite the rain, walkers from around the area came together last Sunday to help rise awareness and funds to combat Juvenile Diabetes, during the annual Walk to Cure Diabetes in Seaside Heights. |
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They came to walk. They came to raise awareness. They came to support research. They came because they care.
It may have started with rain, but sunshine followed the walkers at the Walk to Cure Diabetes event held last week on the Seaside Heights boardwalk.
"Despite the early morning weather, we had an amazing turnout," said Beckie Burlew, special events coordinator of the Central Jersey Chapter
of the Juvenile Diabetes Research
Foundation (JDRF). "About 1,000 people took part in the walk."
Members of the JDRF shook off the raindrops and relaxed over lunch following the boardwalk event, as clouds gave way to sunny skies. Quick-Chek, which provided the lunch, also donated breakfast for walkers at the event, Burlew said. Representatives of Micromedia Publications, Inc., corporate sponsors of the event and publishers of The Brick Times, were also on hand to help coordinate efforts.
At the end of the day, the Walk was about the people who turned out to help make a difference.
Families and businesses made up teams for the event, said Lori McLane, executive director of the JDRF's, Central Jersey chapter.
"This is an exciting day. Families get a chance to get together for a common cause," she said.
Members of family teams named Jonny's Angels, Brenna's Believers, Brian's Freedom Fighters, Christopher's Crew and others wore bold colored team shirts as they walked the boards. They said that the effort is all for a good cause.
"It is a great day, and the children are so happy," said Jocelyn Armstrong, who walked with her family team, Jonny's Angels.
Armstrong said that the team name was her son Jonny's idea. The Toms River mom walked with her twins, Krista and Kiley, 3, son, P.J., 8, and husband, Phil, to show support for the JDRF.
"The foundation is wonderful," said Armstrong. "They were a great comfort for my son, Jonny," she said, "and Rufus, the diabetic bear was a great help, too."
The stuffed animal, she said, comes equipped with medical accessories just like the children receive during treatments.
"It helps him a lot," she said of her 6 year-old, who was diagnosed at the age of three. "He loves Rufus, and the bear has made it a little easier for him."
Jim and Cathy Lutz, Waretown, participate in the charity event each year with 8 year-old granddaughter, Brenna. "We are walking for a good cause," they said.
"Everyone loves to walk the boardwalk," agreed Barbara Wolf, who was there with her 6 year-old son, Bailey, of Barnegat.
Robert and Pam Shymanski, Brick, said that the event allows their son, Christopher, "to see other kids with the same problems. He is excited to come out here. That means a lot to us."
Volunteers like Jaime Ryan, Rumson, talked about her 10-year-old daughter, Paige.
"There are some days that she is bitter," said Ryan, "and we have to work through that, but the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation is the one organization that gives the most money to research. We hope to find a cure," she said. "They have done a lot."
Brittany Dunham-Villa's extended family relaxed over lunch after the boardwalk event. "The foundation has helped to give us family support," said Christine McCoy.
Dunham-Villa, a14-year-old freshman at Manchester High School, was having a good time with her friends on the boardwalk.
One in every 400 to 600 children in the United State has Type I diabetes, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Children living with diabetes are often buffered by the love and caring of families who will not give up until a cure is found for the deadly disease, which affects nearly 21 million people in the U.S and accounts for more than $132 billion in health-care costs in this country each year.
That's where the JDRF comes into play.
Since its founding in 1970, the JDRF has been a leader in funding and research. Over 80 percent of JDRF expenditures directly support research and researchrelated education. The Ocean County event specifically raises about $185,000 for research, said McLane.
In addition, "The JDRF helps kids meet other kids with the same problem, and also try and help with families with emotional support," she said.
Want to get involved? Contact the Central Jersey Chapter of JDRF at 732- 219-6654.
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