John McDonald to Chair JDRF’s “Re-Imagined” Alamance One Walk on March 28

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Event will now take place “virtually,” with family and corporate Walk teams coming together online to “see” each other, while raising funds for type 1 diabetes (T1D) research

 

Greensboro, North Carolina, March 20, 2020 – JDRF’s Piedmont Triad Chapter announced today that Burlington civic leader John McDonald will serve as Corporate Chair for its “re-imagined” Alamance One Walk on March 28, 2020.

 

While none of McDonald’s family members live with type 1 diabetes (T1D), he has many friends who are affected by this disease, including former Alamance One Walk Chair Michael Holt and JDRF Piedmont Triad Chapter Board member Anne Hogan, whose son, Andrew, was diagnosed as a small child. That’s why McDonald recognizes the urgent need for research to cure, prevent, and treat type 1.

 

As the coronavirus spread and it became apparent that hundreds of people could not gather together for the Alamance One Walk as planned, McDonald and the JDRF team sprang into action, creating a “virtual” walk that will allow JDRF supporters in Alamance County to celebrate the great fundraising success that is propelling JDRF’s research progress toward curing T1D.

 

All Alamance Walk Teams and individual walkers are invited to celebrate JDRF’s vision of a world without type 1 on March 28 via social media. The Piedmont Triad Chapter is encouraging all those who were planning to walk to:

 

  • Put on their Walk team t-shirts (many of which highlight this year’s theme of Dr. Seuss on the Loose), lace up their sneakers, and get moving wherever they are—walking around the block, hopping on a treadmill, or jogging around their neighborhood.

 

  • Take a video or snap a photo, sharing it on social media with the hashtags #ManyForOneWalk and #JDRFOneWalk and tagging:
    • JDRF’s Piedmont Triad Chapter, by using @JDRFTriad on Facebook and Twitter;
    • Broadcast partner FOX8, by using @FOX8news on Facebook and @myfox8 on Twitter; and
    • Print partner the Times-News, by using @TimesNewsBurlington on Facebook.

At 9 am on Saturday, March 28, JDRF’s Piedmont Triad Chapter will share the Alamance Many For One Walk opening ceremonies at Facebook.com/JDRFTriad. Stay tuned to Facebook throughout the day to see how people around Alamance County, the Piedmont Triad, and beyond are joining in to create a world without T1D.

 

“While—by necessity—March 28 has to be different than previous Walk Days, we want to make sure our Alamance Walk teams still have an opportunity to ‘see’ all their teammates—and all the other folks they’d normally celebrate with in person. And that’s why we’re so excited about our virtual Alamance ‘Many For One Walk,’” said JDRF Piedmont Triad Chapter Executive Director Eleanor Schaffner-Mosh. “Please join us online starting at 9 am on March 28 and let’s celebrate how the Alamance community is coming together to turn type one into type none!”

 

With more than $100,000 already raised by Alamance Walk teams and individuals, Walk Chair John McDonald said, “I’m truly thankful for the remarkable work our Walk teams are doing in the face of these uncertain times to continue raising much-needed funds to cure type 1 diabetes. What a wonderful spirit of giving we have here in Alamance County! I know we’re all looking forward to participating in our virtual walk on Saturday morning, March 28!”

 

To learn more about the Alamance Walk and make donations to help JDRF cure T1D, please visit https://tinyurl.com/JDRFAlamance2020.

 

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2020 Alamance One Walk Sponsors: JDRF thanks our Alamance sponsors, many of whom have supported T1D research for years. Major 2020 sponsors committed to date include:

Presenting Sponsors

  • BB&T
  • HealthTeamAdvantage

 

Presenting Media Sponsor

  • FOX8 – WGHP

 

Platinum Sponsors

  • Cone Health/Alamance Regional Medical Center
  • Glen Raven
  • LabCorp

 

Gold Sponsors

  • Buckner HeavyLift Cranes
  • Harris Crouch

 

Silver Sponsor

  • Elon University

 

Bronze Sponsors

  • American National Bank
  • Chandler Concrete
  • Chick-fil-A
  • Gilliam Bell Moser
  • Kernodle Clinic
  • Pro Feet
  • Shawmut
  • Stearns Ford/County Ford
  • The Times-News
  • Trust Company of the South

 

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.