Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation to Host the Charlotte Walk to Cure Diabetes on April 27, 2013

CHARLOTTE, NC—The JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) is hosting the Walk to Cure Diabetes on Saturday April 27, 2013, at Carowinds Amusement Park (14523 Carowinds Blvd., Charlotte, North Carolina). More than 7,500 walkers will converge Saturday morning to raise money for research in an effort to find a cure for type one diabetes. Registration for the 23rd annual walk, sponsored by Sunbelt Rentals, begins at 7 a.m. with the 5k walk beginning at 8:30 a.m. Parking will be free for all walkers as they enjoy a three-mile stretch of Carowinds supporting this great cause.

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which a person’s pancreas loses the ability to produce insulin—a hormone essential to digestion. More than 15,000 children and 15,000 adults in the United States receive a diagnosis each year. That’s why JDRF holds more than 200 walks nationally every year that connect walkers to an extensive community of families, volunteers, and donors who are committed to fighting this serious disease. The JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes is a fun, happy, healthy, and effective way to show your support for all those living with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) and to raise funds for JDRF—the leading global organization focused on T1D research.

Entertainment for the event will be provided by Vyzion Radio artist DJ Jojo Stubbs spinning tunes, and bootcamp instructor Julie Sawyer will be leading walkers through pre-race warm-ups along with members of the NBA Ladycats dance team. There will be plenty for the kids to do during registration including two bouncehouses.

Also, representatives of FBI Charlotte and FBI Columbia will be on site to share important child safety information. Agents, professional staff, and FBI Citizens Academy Alumni volunteers will offer hands-on demonstrations of the FBI’s Child ID App and will even help you download it right to your smart phone. You can also learn about the FBI’s Safe Online Surfing Internet Challenge. It is a free, web-based initiative designed to educate third through eighth grade students about cyber safety such as the protection of personal information, password strength, cell phone safety, social networking, and online gaming safety. The videos also include real-life stories of kids who have faced cyber bullies and online predators.

The JDRF Walk To Cure Diabetes has raised $1 billion to date. Your generosity helps us continue to accelerate progress in T1D research and keep people with T1D healthy while we work towards a cure.