Once again, Santa Clarita residents are taking to the streets to walk in support of finding a cure for diabetes. Nationally, over 200,000 walkers join forces to make a difference to someone they know by supporting the American Diabetes Association’s premier fund raising event. In Santa Clarita alone, over 20,000 people are living with diabetes. Local sponsors lending their support to the Walk include the MannKind Corporation, Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital, Newhall Land and Farm, and Mann Biomedical.
The Corporate Recruitment Chairperson is Hakan Edstrom of MannKind Corporation. The Santa Clarita Walk is scheduled for Sunday, September 30th at 9 a.m. The location is Bridgeport Park on Newhall Ranch Road. The Walk is a five mile route that winds through beautiful Bridgeport Park and along San Francisquito Creek. Rest stops are located along the path providing Culligan water and snacks for walkers.
The day starts with coffee and breakfast provided by the Hyatt Valencia. After walkers return, they are treated to lunch donated by local restaurants including Outback Steakhouse, Chipotle, and Johny Pacific. The Drop Zone band and Star 98.7 radio will provide music and entertainment. Along with their lunch, walkers enjoy participating in a raffle and a silent auction with some truly unique offerings. The Walk is fun for the whole family!
Matt Stokes is one of several volunteers passionately committed to finding a cure for diabetes and is the Santa Clarita Valley Leadership Council Chair for the American Diabetes Association. When asked why it is so important to support the Walk he replied, “Diabetes is a life threatening disease. There are more than 20.8 million people in the United States and nearly 200 million worldwide who are suffering from diabetes. If the current trend continues, one in three Americans born in the year 2000 or later will eventually be diagnosed with this chronic disease. We must reverse this trend. Please join us in our fight to stamp out diabetes. It is a great way to get some exercise and donate to worthy cause!”
Walkers are encouraged to form teams with friends, family or form corporate teams. The goal is for each walker to raise $150, with prizes awarded for funds raised at increasing levels. While raising much needed funds for research, education, and advocacy, the Walk also emphasizes fitness, fun, and diabetes prevention and awareness. There are 5 million Americans who have diabetes and are unaware that they have the disease. Symptoms of diabetes include extreme thirst, frequent urination and/or unexplained weight loss.
About 80% of every dollar raised through the Walk will directly benefit research, advocacy, and public awareness. The American Diabetes Association has contributed more than $150 million towards finding a cure for diabetes. The mission of the American Diabetes Association is to prevent and cure diabetes, and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. Team up and walk for diabetes and help find a cure while getting on the road to better health!
For more information about Santa Clarita Valley’s Step Out to Fight Diabetes Walk, or to volunteer, call 661-295-0081, or email lblumenthal@diabetes.org or visit www.diabetes.org/stepout .