FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE & VIRTUAL INTERVIEWS
Jessica Boyd
614-965-6043
jfboyd@jdrf.org

The popular annual event, normally drawing over 5,000 people to walk in support of  those with type one diabetes (T1D), will be hosted this year as an in-person Halloween-themed drive through experience.

COLUMBUS, OH – Each year, thousands of people in the type 1 diabetes community converge to honor those living with T1D and to celebrate months of fundraising for JDRF to help fund diabetes research. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the local JDRF chapter team and CAS have partnered to think creatively and reimagine the event.

“Many nonprofits are going strictly virtual right now,” said JDRF Columbus Market Manager Jessica Boyd, “But we felt it was important to bring joy and provide an in-person, but contact-free, experience for our community.” JDRF hopes to achieve just that by hosting its first ever Halloween Drive event, presented by CAS on their campus located at 2540 Olentangy River Road in Columbus. The event will be held Sunday, October 25 from 3-6 pm.

The JDRF Halloween Drive is meant to serve as the culminating event for the months of fundraising by walk participants. “People will still register at walk.jdrf.org/centralohio and fundraise for JDRF,” said Boyd, “and we now have a way for them to walk on their own, safely in their neighborhoods, and track those miles online. The Halloween Drive will be our celebration of those fundraising and fitness efforts.” Those who log 5K in miles will receive an exclusive JDRF One Walk finisher medal at the Halloween Drive event, and can also earn several other fundraising incentives.

CAS is partnering with JDRF for the third year and they are happy to provide an in-person experience to the Central Ohio community at a time where events such as this aren’t happening. “The Halloween Drive is a mystical and magical drive through a Halloween ONEderland! Everyone will be awe-inspired by live-action pirates swordfighting, intricate HighBall Halloween couture costumes, and hit with nostalgia with throwbacks like the Back to the Future Delorean. We had to think creatively to come up with an in-person concept where safety is paramount, but will allow little ones, teens, and adults to all enjoy the spirit of Halloween and have something to look forward to,” said CAS Vice President Michael Dennis, who is serving as this year’s JDRF One Walk Central Ohio Chair. “Many nonprofits have experienced a steep drop in donations due to the pandemic, and JDRF is no exception. However, new diagnoses of T1D are rising, and the added stress and risk factors of this year make the need for a cure even more apparent. Families are facing new challenges, and contributing to JDRF means these families have someone to call for support, and the medical technology they need to live a better life.” T1D is an autoimmune disease that can impact any one at any age. 1.6M Americans live with this chronic disease that has no known cause or cure.

The Halloween Drive is open to the community at a cost of $25 per car. 100% of proceeds benefit JDRF. Pre-registration is required for all, and can be done at www.JDRFHalloweenDrive.org. Please note for the safety of everyone attending and the performers, no one will be permitted to depart their vehicles once on the CAS campus.  

Dennis looks forward to hosting an event that will delight the community, and while he doesn’t want to reveal any more of the magical surprises, promises a great experience for all. The route will take approximately 10-15 minutes to traverse and will include themed segments, effects courtesy of Scarefactory. “This event truly does have something for everyone, regardless of age and whether or not you have a connection to JDRF,” says Dennis.

For more information and to register to fundraise and/or to attend the Halloween Drive, visit www.JDRFHalloweenDrive.org. 

Special thanks to media partners WBNS 10TV and Columbus Radio Group’s Rewind 103.5/104.3.

Special thanks also to valued community partners and talented artists: CAS, HighBall Halloween, Royal Arts Fencing Company, Amazing Giants, Home Depot, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Marshall’s, Tandem, the John & Elizabeth Turner Family Foundations, Nowstaligia Toys, Scarefactory, Miss Jennifer’s Dance Studio, and more to come! 

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JDRF’s mission is to accelerate life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent and treat type 1 diabetes (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 grassroots support of people connecting in their local communities, and then pooling resources on a national stage. We collaborate with academic institutions, policymakers, and corporate and industry partners to develop and deliver innovative therapies to people living with T1D. Our staff and volunteers throughout the United States and our six international affiliates are dedicated to the vision of a world without T1D. For more information, please visit jdrf.org.

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