News
Cox kids walk a mile for diabetes research
Print this story | Email this story
Taking a walk is always a pleasant experience, especially when it's for a good cause. The students of Cox Elementary spent their Thursday specials class periods walking through the neighborhood in support of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) after collecting money for the foundation.
The students also heard the second of two presentations about diabetes related issues from JDRF volunteer Becky Hare.
“It's very important,” said Hare. “So many of these kids have relatives or even schoolmates with type 1 diabetes. We also want them to be aware of type 2 diabetes, which has been linked to childhood obesity. It's a huge problem - kids in elementary have type 2 diabetes.”
Hare first visited the school two weeks before, with JDRF volunteer Nancy Shugart, who brought her dog guide Luke. They spent time with the students, talking about Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, and ways to help prevent diabetes through exercise and healthy eating.
“This is good for the kids because it instills a sense of community service,” said Cox Elementary PE teacher Brandi Bergeron. “It also allows them to be aware of healthy eating habits and to show concern for people with diabetes.”
Totals aren't yet in for the Cox fundraiser, but third grader Amiee Heim brought in the most, raising $500 by herself. Previous JDRF fundraisers at Cox have totaled in the thousands.
The route of the walk on Thursday consisted of one mile through the Forest Oaks subdivision. Leading the walks were Bergeron, and PE teachers Annie Possis, Brandi Bennett and Karen Harper.
The Kids Walk program is in its sixth year. Over the past five years, it has raised over $500,000 for diabetes research from seven Austin-area school districts. Over 80 percent of the money raised by JDRF goes directly to diabetes research, said Hare. For more information about JDRF and how to help the foundation, call (512) 343-0663, or visit www.jdrf.org.
E-mail charles@hillcountrynews.com
Reader Comments
Registered users sign in here: |
Become a Registered User |
MORE News
MOST COMMENTED STORIES
- Leander election ends - finally! (58)
- Leander candidates drop out of forum (42)
- EARLY VOTING: Leander early voting ends above 600 (38)
- Wild election comes to an end (37)
- BREAKING NEWS: Proposed facility in Leander to provide 4,000 jobs (29)
- Cowman says tax lien a mistake (27)
- Leander Mayor Pro-Tem to hold press conference (23)
- Will they avoid us in tough times? (23)
