WINTER PARK, FL (April, 2023) – JDRF raised $273,000 at their annual One Walk in Orlando on Sunday, launching their start of three walks in Northern Florida. The One Walk event was hosted at Cranes Roost Park in Altamonte Springs on April 16 and welcomed over 1,500 individuals on both corporate and family teams. The emcee and chair of the event was Katie Erickson, Director of Costuming at Walt Disney World, who has lived with type 1 diabetes (T1D) for over 40 years.

This year was all about celebrating the T1D warriors in our Greater Orlando community. The program started with a T1D parade, featuring children and adults donned in special capes divided into groups by how many years they have conquered living with T1D. There was not a dry eye in sight as they rallied together.

AdventHealth for children generously sponsored the KidZone where kids could enjoy free inflatable games, face painting, and button making. Our generous corporate sponsor, Wawa, provided food and beverages for all attendees to enjoy, as well as volunteers to encourage and cheer on all walkers.

“Wawa and The Wawa Foundation are committed to building stronger communities and are proud to support JDRF at their One Walks to help cure, prevent and treat type 1 diabetes,” said Liz Simeone, President, The Wawa Foundation. “There’s no better feeling for our associates than volunteering their time to brighten the days of friends and neighbors in our community. We’re with JDRF and their community each step of the way!”

The highlight of the day was the Mile of Hope around Cranes Roost Park that featured children and adults living with T1D, showing how T1D can strike at any age and granting hope to those walking the route that you can live a healthy life.

JDRF Northern Florida will continue their Walk season with a walk in Greater Jacksonville on Saturday, April 22, and Greater Tampa Bay on Saturday, April 29.

All funds raised go to support research directly impacting children and adults living with type 1 diabetes. The date for the 2024 One Walk will be announced in the fall. To make a contribution to JDRF Northern Florida visit https://walk.jdrf.org/greaterorlando2023.

About T1D

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which a person’s pancreas stops producing insulin, a hormone that enables people to get energy from food. It occurs when the body’s immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, called beta cells. While its causes are not yet entirely understood, scientists believe that both genetic factors and environmental triggers are involved. Its onset has nothing to do with diet or lifestyle. There is nothing you can do to prevent T1D, and—at present—nothing you can do to get rid of it.

About JDRF

JDRF is the leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes research. Our mission is to accelerate life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent and treat T1D and its complications. To accomplish this, JDRF has invested more than $2.2 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. For more information, please visit jdrf.org.