Several weekends ago, the Ross College Grand Rapids North team participated in the 4th annual JDRF Walk to End Type 1 Diabetes in Grand Rapids, MI.
This walk had a lot of personal meaning to some Ross College employees. One of these employees is Amira Curic, the Campus Director. Amira’s sons, Dado and Ado, both have Type 1 Diabetes and have struggled with the disease their entire lives. They’ve had to adapt to the changes that come with Type 1, such as following certain diets, having activity restrictions, and having to deal with the idea of “being different.” Individuals with Type 1 typically have to wear a variation of a device that administers insulin every time their blood sugar falls too low.
The process is exhausting and difficult; however, thanks to foundations such as JDRF, who have dedicated time and funding to research, diabetes has become more manageable.
JDRF was created with the intention of ending Type 1 Diabetes. The foundation works towards its mission by doing clinical trials, taking into account feedback, doing research, and coming up with preventative measures the public can take to eliminate T1D.
During the event, the team was able to learn more about Type 1 Diabetes. They learned that 85% of the population with T1D is over the age of 18. A typical misconception people have is that T1D only affects small children. The team also learned that Type 1 Diabetes can be both genetic and triggered by environmental factors and viral illnesses.
The walk was more than a walk for the Ross College Grand Rapids North team; it was a march in solidarity with those families who are going through the diagnosis of one of their loved ones and for those who have sadly lost children, siblings, parents, and partners to this disease.
The one-and-a-half mile walk was held in Millenium Park in Grand Rapids, MI. More than 890 people participated in the walk and over $239,682 was raised for the purpose of funding research for JDRF.
When a group comes together to support one cause, they have the ability to make a significant difference in the lives of those suffering. The opportunity to walk with JDRF to aid research and to end Type 1 Diabetes was an eye-opening and educational experience for everyone who participated.