Walking for a Cure

Juvenile Diabetes is a terrible disease. Chances are that you know someone who suffers from it on a daily basis. Endless finger pricks and needle sticks are just as routine for these kids as is brushing their teeth. You may not recognize the disease in their faces; for the most part it is a hidden disease. They appear just as normal as any other kid but the truth is that kids can suffer serious issues attributed to this disease. Researchers are getting closer and closer to a cure everyday but they require funding to keep the progress going.

Our dearest friends' daughter was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes almost 5 years ago. The bravery with which she tackles her diagnosis amazes me each and every time I'm with her. And the determination to find a cure within her lifetime is an effort that her parents tirelessly strive towards. Each year there is a regional walk held in Loudoun County to raise money for research and our family participates as part of the team, "Brittany's Diabetes Destroyers". That walk will be held in June. You can visit our page and/or make a donation to our team here: http://walk.jdrf.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=extranet.personalpage&confirmid=87355286

As part of Brittany's mom's tireless effort to raise money for the JDRF organization, she coordinates a similar walk at Seldens Landing Elementary School for the students to participate in. Last year was the first year of the walk at the school and they raised over $10,000!!! Incredible!! This year the walk was held on May 8th with approximately 170 walkers and at last count they were close to reaching that same goal. Way to go!

I attended the walk to take photos of the kids. It was so much fun. They had an awesome DJ from All in One Entertainment (I highly recommend!), lots of dancing, a limbo line, tattoos, and super cool door prizes like tickets to Six Flags, the Ashburn Ice House, and Jumping Jack Sports among many, many others. The kids all had a blast and best of all, they could feel good about all working together to help support JDRF's efforts to find a cure. Here are a few images from this fabulous event. Thanks for having me!