Over the past year, JDRF Walkers from all over the country have stepped up and made an incredible impact. Because of your efforts in the past, JDRF has made some amazing research breakthroughs like these:

• Congress passed a 3-year, $450 million commitment to fund diabetes research.
• Everyone can now easily test the likelihood of developing T1D.
• A drug was identified that could delay the onset of T1D by three years.

And this year, your participation will power more research, enable more advocacy and fund more support for the 1.6 million Americans living with T1D.

While we’re still not returning to the traditional walk experience of the past, the funds raised from One Walk directly impacts JDRF’s mission to prevent, treat and cure T1D, and it is crucial that we continue to push forward. Our local community is leading the way!

Youth Ambassador Savannah shares that she fundraises for One Walk so “me and my T1D friends can have a somewhat normal life”. The device technology that JDRF has funded and helped bring into the hands of kids like Savannah makes life so much easier for her and her family. Each year since she was diagnosed, Savannah share her story with her classmates and teachers during a “Powered by Kids” assembly, and a few weeks later everyone gathers for a kids walk at school. Newly designed Team Savannah shirts, featuring her love of softball are available for friends, family an school community to purchase to support her One Walk.

Our adult networking group is banding together – virtually and in-person – for the second year in a row as a team, the NJ Metro T1Ds. Despite the challenges of fundraising during a pandemic, the team knows that JDRF has and always will remain laser-focused on finding a cure. Whether you were diagnosed yesterday or twenty years ago, join this group and team, and be part of a community of people that know what you go through on a day to day basis. Team captain, David Friedman invites you to join them as they log their miles and fundraise for the mission.

Team Miracle for Matthew, walking since 2011 when Matthew was diagnosed at 15 months old will celebrate their One Walk close to home this year. While traditionally Matthew has lead their large team – sporting new shirts each year – at Liberty State Park, their friends, family and community will rally around Matthew locally this year. The NJ Lions Clubs are celebrating their T1D hero with a walk on October 16, and in November, which happens to be National Diabetes Awareness Month, his team will celebrate once again near their home. Mathew’s mom Lauren says, “Walk Day has always been somewhat of a holiday in our house. We come together to not only celebrate our T1D Warrior but also lift up in love and support all the T1D warriors and their families.” Watch Matthew’s story.

Our healthcare partners from across the state join One Walk to support their patients and fund research. Children’s Specialized Hospital, Hackensack Meridian Health’s Jersey Shore Endocrinology, Monmouth Medical Center, Atlantic Health System at Morristown Hospital, The Molly Center and Children’s Specialized Chronic Illness Management Program and are just a few who join us each year to work towards a world without T1D. This year, Hackensack Meridian Health’s Dr. Kate Beckwith-Fickas is being honored as our One Walk Healthcare ambassador!  She not only leads her walk team each year, which includes patients and staff, she is a beacon of light to our local T1D community.

How can you step up this year to make a difference?

• Register! Re-create a past team, create a new team or join a team.
• Share! Let us know how you’ll fundraise, where you’ll walk and who you’ll walk with!
• Donate! Support your favorite T1D hero or team by making a donation.

Whenever and however you choose to participate, October 24 will be a day for our local community to celebrate our stories, acknowledge our accomplishments, and recognize all that we have achieved together!  Whether you join your fellow One Walk teams at one of our “Destination Celebrations” on October 24, or you Walk Your Way with friends and family, JDRF will be celebrating with you on Facebook and Instagram, and sharing stories throughout the day.