Kelly Harrill of Grandover Resort, Jay Harris of IBERIABANK, and Lane Schiffman of Schiffman’s Jewelers are childhood friends and Rotarians who live by the motto, “Service Above Self”

 

Greensboro, North Carolina, October 11, 2019 – JDRF’s Piedmont Triad Chapter announced today that—for the first time in Chapter history—three business leaders are joining forces to serve as Corporate Chairs of JDRF’s 2019 Greensboro One Walk. And all three have thrown themselves into the 2019 Walk theme: Dr. Seuss on the Loose.

 

Kelly Harrill of Grandover Resort, Jay Harris of IBERIABANK, and Lane Schiffman of Schiffman’s Jewelers grew up together playing basketball and riding bikes in the Kirkwood neighborhood of Greensboro. Today, each of them belongs to a different Rotary Club in Greensboro—Kelly is a member of the Gate City club, Jay is a member of the Crescent club, and Lane is a member of the Greensboro club—and each of them feels strongly about living the Rotarian motto of “Service Above Self.”

 

So, when JDRF Development Director Mitzi Ellis, also a Rotarian, approached the three friends about teaming up to raise money for type 1 diabetes (T1D) research by leading the Greensboro Walk, they jumped at the chance.

 

“How could we say no to this opportunity?” said Harris, who was the first of the three to sign on. “Chairing the Walk is a chance for us to make a real difference for the millions of people living with diabetes—both in our community and around the world.”

 

“I felt right away that working with my buddies for such an important cause was the right thing to do—for us, for people with T1D, and for our businesses,” continued Harrill. “More than a thousand passionate people will join us at the One Walk. And they’ll have one goal in mind: To raise as much money as possible to put an end to diabetes.”

 

“Because of my travel schedule, I was the last one to learn about the three-chair strategy,” said Schiffman. “But when I heard what Jay and Kelly had already agreed to—and when I saw them put on their ‘Cat in the Hat’ hats in honor of the Dr. Seuss on the Loose Walk theme—I was all in!”

 

With three weeks to go until Walk Day, the three friends—now known as the “three cool Cats [in the Hats]” among the JDRF family—are thrilled with the response they’re seeing from sponsors, corporate teams, and family teams. “Based on the passion the ‘three Cats’ are pouring into this effort, the Greensboro Walk is on track to raise over $300,000 for T1D research,” said Eleanor Schaffner-Mosh, Executive Director of JDRF’s Piedmont Triad Chapter. “Everyone should join us at Country Park on Saturday, November 2. As a preview, I can tell you that Dr. Seuss-themed t-shirts and costumes—and a lot of joy—will be on display.”

 

The JDRF Greensboro One Walk will take place on Saturday, November 2, 2019, at Country Park. Check-in begins at 9 am, with the program starting at 9:30 am, and the 3-mile Walk getting underway at 10 am.

 

Individuals, businesses, and teams still have time to participate in the Greensboro Walk by registering online at tinyurl.com/JDRFGreensboroWalk2019 or calling Development Director Mitzi Ellis at 336-455-7902.

 

Each year, JDRF One Walks bring together more than 900,000 people across the country to change the future for everyone living with type 1 diabetes in a fun, family–friendly atmosphere.

 

In addition to the Greensboro Walk on November 2, JDRF’s Piedmont Triad Chapter will host a One Walk in Winston-Salem on November 16, in Alamance County on March 28, 2020, and in High Point on May 2, 2020. Together, the four Triad events will deliver approximately $1 million for T1D research.

 

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2019 Greensboro One Walk Sponsors: JDRF thanks our sponsors, many of whom have supported T1D research for years. Major 2019 sponsors committed to date include:

Presenting Sponsors

• BB&T
• FOX8 – WGHP

 

Platinum Sponsors

• The Carroll Companies
• HealthTeam Advantage
• HICAPS
• IBERIABANK
• Quaintance Weaver

 

Gold Sponsors

• Arch MI
• Cone Health
• Grandover Resort
• Hawthorne Residential Partners
• Highlands Mortgage
• Schiffman’s Jewelers

 

Silver Sponsors

• C.H. Robinson
• Samet Corporation
• TriMark
• UnitedHealthcare
• vTv Therapeutics

 

Bronze Sponsors

• APAC – Atlantic Inc.
• Brown Investment Partners
• Carlton Scale
• Fox Rothschild
• Energymizer
• Mercedes Benz
• Mother Murphy’s Laboratories
• NAI Piedmont Triad
• Windsor Companies

 

About Type 1 Diabetes: Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease that occurs when a person’s pancreas stops producing insulin, the hormone that controls blood-sugar levels. T1D develops when the insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells are mistakenly destroyed by the body’s immune system. The cause of this attack is still being researched; however, scientists believe the cause may have genetic and environmental components. T1D affects children and adults, and people can be diagnosed at any age. As of now, there is nothing anyone can do to prevent T1D, and there is no cure.

 

About JDRF: JDRF is the leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes (T1D) research. Our mission is to improve lives today and tomorrow by accelerating life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent, and treat T1D and its complications. To accomplish this, JDRF has invested more than $2 billion in research funding since our inception. We are an organization built on a grassroots model of people connecting in their local communities, collaborating regionally for efficiency and broader fundraising impact, and uniting on a national stage to pool resources, passion, and energy. We collaborate with academic institutions, policymakers, and corporate and industry partners to develop and deliver a pipeline of innovative therapies to people living with T1D. Our staff and volunteers throughout the United States and our six international affiliates are dedicated to advocacy, community engagement, and our vision of a world without T1D. Learn more at jdrf.org or @JDRF on Twitter.

 

About JDRF – Piedmont Triad Chapter: Covering 15 North Carolina counties, the Piedmont Triad Chapter provides support for those living with type 1 diabetes by convening educational and networking sessions such as the annual TypeOneNation Summit, and raises awareness and funds for T1D research through a variety of events, including our annual Hope Gala; One Walks in Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Alamance County, and High Point; the Ride to Cure Diabetes; and the Tennis to Tent to Tee event in Pinehurst. Learn more at jdrf.org/triad, facebook.com/jdrftriad, or @JDRFtriad on Twitter.