Every year, about 15,000 children are diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, a disease which drastically alters the lives of youth across America. Facing such an obstacle can be especially challenging during the earlier years, when children are just beginning to explore their worlds and become more self-sufficient. A new diagnosis creates additional pressure in what can already be a stressful and complex stage of youth. However, one particular program works to reduce the burden placed on young children living with T1D. By increasing community involvement and awareness, the JDRF Kids Walk serves as a valuable source of support and education.

The Kids Walk program has two primary goals. The first is education and informing each participating school community about the symptoms, treatments, and effects of Type 1 Diabetes, as well as dispelling myths about the disease and explaining the differences between Type 1 and Type 2. JDRF provides the supplies and tools to initiate this educational curriculum. The program also actively encourages young students to adopt healthy habits and lifestyles from an early age. By informing the public about a condition so commonly misunderstood, the Kids Walk helps children overcome social barriers surrounding Type 1 Diabetes, as classmates come to better understand the illness.

The program’s second goal is fundraising. Through collective service and character building, the Kids Walk promotes a collaborative, supportive environment across communities. Over a period of two weeks, participating schools raise money for Type 1 research by gathering donations from friends, family, and neighbors, either online or in person. At the end of these two weeks, participants submit their funds and celebrate their accomplishments by holding a Walk on their school’s campus. In addition, schools are rewarded with ten percent of the money raised for JDRF, to be used for books, supplies, or other necessities. Schools and individual students have the chance to win a variety of awards based on their achievements.

Overall, schools have reported very positive experiences with the program. According to principal Whitney Gallegos of Kohn Elementary School in Tulare, which participated in the program last year, “Having the walk at our school helped us educate all of our students on what Type 1 diabetes is. It helped all of us gain a little more compassion for those who have Type 1 diabetes…. Working with JDRF was much easier than any of the other organizations we’ve worked with. From scheduling, distributing materials, collecting money to distributing prizes, it was all done with ease”. Gallegos encourages other schools to similarly improve their communities by investing their time in the Kids Walk.

Schools interested in participating can click here to register or contact Elizabeth Dixon at (916) 576-1379 or edixon@jdrf.org.

Written by: Lorena Bergstrom