Contact:
Tara Wilcox-Ghanoonparvar, 212-479-7524; twilcox-ghanoonparvar@jdrf.org

–Local JDRF chapters help to educate students and teachers about type 1 diabetes; provide tools and guidance needed to organize school Kids Walks to raise money for research–

New York, NY, October 31, 2013 – As children across the country packed their school bags in preparation for the new school year, students with type 1 diabetes (T1D) left a little extra room among their school supplies for their lifeline: insulin. Settling into school routines for children with T1D also means informing their teachers, school nurses, and peers about the autoimmune disease that affects as many as three million Americans.

JDRF, the leading charitable funder of T1D research and a powerful advocate for the T1D community, is encouraging schools across the United States to help raise awareness and support for research by hosting their own JDRF Kids Walk to Cure Diabetes. With step-by-step support from local JDRF chapters, schools across the country can educate their students and communities about T1D, and empower them to make a difference.

“The JDRF Kids Walk to Cure Diabetes is a fun and insightful event, bringing children together with their classmates, teachers, and communities to learn about a disease that may affect someone they know, or may know later in life,” said Jennifer Mylock, JDRF’s director of youth initiatives. “After learning about type 1 diabetes and what life is like with the disease, students will have a better understanding of the importance of research progress, and have the unique opportunity to take on an active role in advancing that progress through the funds they raise as a team.”

Since 2007, students have raised awareness of the impact of T1D across the country and more than $18 million toward research to progressively remove the burden of T1D until it no longer exists. Last year, more than 800 schools participated in this growing program and raised nearly $4 million. JDRF makes organizing a Kids Walk easy by providing the tools and guidance needed each step of the way. The campaign begins with an educational kick-off presentation to teach students and staff about T1D and provide students with information and event supplies. This year, schools will enjoy JDRF’s brand new Kids Walk video during their kick-off presentation. This engaging and relatable informational video features testimonials from people who live with T1D every day, including children and special celebrity guests. For a preview of the video, visit kidswalk.jdrf.org.

To organize a JDRF Kids Walk to Cure Diabetes, schools can register easily online by visiting kidswalk.jdrf.org. The nearest JDRF chapter will then be in touch to answer questions and set up a date for the school’s Kids Walk kick-off.

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About JDRF

JDRF is the leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes (T1D) research. JDRF’s goal is to progressively remove the impact of T1D from people’s lives until we achieve a world without T1D. JDRF collaborates with a wide spectrum of partners and is the only organization with the scientific resources, regulatory influence, and a working plan to better treat, prevent, and eventually cure T1D.

As the largest charitable supporter of T1D research, JDRF is currently sponsoring $530 million in scientific research in 17 countries. In 2012 alone, JDRF provided more than $110 million to T1D research. More than 80 percent of JDRF’s expenditures directly support research and research-related education. In 2012 Forbes magazine named JDRF one of its five All-Star charities, citing the organization’s efficiency and effectiveness.