If present trends continue, it is estimated that one out of every three American children born today will develop diabetes in their lifetime. Right now, it is estimated that one in every ten Americans has diabetes. The American Diabetes Association has helped bring real hope and real progress, and Step Out: Walk to Fight Diabetes is one of their most successful avenues for raising awareness and funds.
The Journal is participating in promoting this local event which will be held in October at Becton, Dickinson in Franklin Lakes, NJ. In the first in a series of articles on diabetes and Step Out, we are proud to provide a platform for the introduction of this event’s Teen and Youth Ambassadors.
Ambassador Clio, age 8
My name is Clio, I am 8 years old and I have Type 1 diabetes. I would like to be the first to welcome you to this year’s Step Out: Walk to Fight Diabetes.
I am very excited and honored again this year, to be the youth ambassador for the Franklin Lakes Step Out event. This is my 3rd year participating and it gets better every year. On behalf of my family, the ADA, and all the boys and girls with diabetes, I want to thank you for your time and effort to this year’s event. It is a great cause and together, again, we can raise money and come closer to finding a cure for this disease.
I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes back in January of 2006. At the beginning it was very difficult to deal with the disease not only for me but for my whole family. Our life as we knew it turned around, especially during meals and snacks times. I could no longer eat anything freely. Before every meal or a snack, my sugar level has to be checked, the carbs measured and insulin calculated and administered. Over time, this routine became easier and it is now part of my daily life. There are also times, most often during sports, where my sugar level goes low and I have to quickly get some sugar either through a drink or tablets or otherwise I might pass out. I have been very lucky so far as I always feel when I am going low and I get a quick drink.
I do maintain a healthy diet, many thanks to my mom, and continue to participate in sport activities. I do gymnastics, play soccer and this year I started lacrosse. I love these sports very much and I always try to improve my skills in all of them. I am currently in third grade and I enjoy school very much. My parents are always there ready to help me with any problem I might have and my father helps me with math.
Last year, as with previous years, it was exciting and fun being the youth ambassador. My family and I were joined by many friends and family during the walk last October. My best friend’s mom and my soccer coach were both on crutches since they hurt their feet, but they walked the entire distance. What an honor that was… All the walkers were so proud of these two ladies walking on crutches. I was asked to join the stage, and cut the official ribbon to start the walk. There were people with cameras taping the walk too. I walked with a few of my friends and we had fun all the way. My team, ‘Clio’s Crusaders’ raised a lot of money again last year. Not only we made our goal of $10,000.00, but we surpassed it by few hundred dollars. We were one of the top teams in New Jersey during last year event.
This year, I hope again, we do better than last year. Now that a lot more people are aware of diabetes and
me, I hope that they will join us. I also hope again this year, that more of my friends and their families will join us and all together we raise more money. I hope not only for me but for all kids with diabetes, a cure is found during my lifetime.
So, I would like to welcome you again and thank you for your efforts and participation. Let’s all make it a
great event, have lots of fun and raise a lot of money
Ambassador Kaitlyn, age 17
My name is Kaitlyn and I am seventeen years old living with juvenile diabetes. I have just recently been elected one of the Teen Ambassadors for the American Diabetes Association, and I would like to welcome you to this year’s Step Out: Walk to Fight Diabetes.
I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of three and although it has been fourteen years of struggle, I do not look at diabetes as my disability, but as my ability. I have the ability to live my life the way I choose with a life altering disease. However, I would not be where I am today without the support of the American Diabetes Association and the will to find the cure for diabetes. Over the years numerous things have advanced in the area of diabetic research and technology. I have gone from injecting myself with six needles a day, to having an insulin pump and sensor which calculates everything from my carbohydrate intake, to the dose of insulin I need to regulate my blood sugars.
It has been a few years since I had last been involved with the American Diabetes Association; however I hope that this year we can make a great difference. In the past, I have raised money by walking door to door with my friends asking for donations, getting my school involved, and mailing hundreds of letters to my family, neighbors, and friends. This past year I had a late start fundraising, but anything can make a difference. With people becoming increasingly more aware of diabetes and what it is about, I wish to have a great outcome for this year’s Step Out: Walk to Fight Diabetes. The money that we raise, and the time and effort that we put into this event will not only be put toward finding a cure for diabetes, but it will also contribute to the major technological advances that have noticeably changed the way I live my life with juvenile diabetes. A cure is in the future and if not in my lifetime, in someone else’s’.
I am greatly honored to have this title and on behalf of my family, friends, and fellow diabetics I want to thank you for the time and effort put forth. Together we can work as a team and keep advancing in the cure for diabetes!