Just under $22,000 raised at annual diabetes fundraiser

Sunny conditions and tremendous community support helped make this year's Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Walk to a Cure fundraiser the most successful event in the four years it has been held in Whitehorse.

Sunny conditions and tremendous community support helped make this year’s Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Walk to a Cure fundraiser the most successful event in the four years it has been held in Whitehorse.
Just under $22,000 was raised, which was more than $7,000 than the total amount generated in 2007, making it the largest increase in the history of the event.
“We are ecstatic this year,“ said Araica McPhee, one of the organizers of the fundraiser.

“We raised way more than we expected and have a lot more walkers than we expected. Every year we are surprised that more and more people come and every year we are surprised by how much money they donate.“
The fundraiser was held on Sunday and featured a 5-km course by the river that participants completed by using a wide variety of methods, such as walking, running, biking and even roller blading. A total of 196 registered for the fundraiser this year, which was up by 65 from the total in 2007.
This year’s event also included live entertainment in the form of bagpipes and a karaoke machine. The sound system was supplied by Unitech.

Also at the event was a face painting booth and door prizes were awarded to a number of individuals registered for the fundraiser.
The door prizes were donated by local companies such as Alpine Bakery, Cellar Steakhouse, Starbucks and Whitehorse Motors. Participants were also free to enjoy food and refreshments after finishing the 5-km course. 
The proceeds included donations made on Sunday at the event as well as individual pledges for people signed up to participate.
Some of the higher pledge totals came from Chase Hobbis, who raised $6,000, Cole Byers, who contributed $5,000 and Katarima Fekete, who raised just over $1,000.

All proceeds will be donated to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation in the hope of curing type 1 diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes is more prominent in children, adolescents or young adults. The disease results in the body producing a low level of insulin and in some cases non at all.
Approximately 10 per cent of all individuals who suffer from diabetes have Type 1. People who are affected by Type 1 diabetes need daily insulin injections for their survival.
Mary Beaton has helped organize the Walk to a Cure event in all four years that the fundraiser has been hosted in Whitehorse.
Beaton, whose daughter was diagnosed with the Type 1 diabetes 8 1/2 years ago, said it is really important to hold this type of event each year.
“I think it really highlights that there is hope for a cure and that there is recognition that there’s lots of people living day to day with type 1 diabetes,“ she said.

“It’s a small part of the population here, but it’s becoming more and more of an issue and even people with type 2, which there’s less.

A lot of them are being diagnosed every year in the Yukon are partial to this event as well because they can always benefit from the research that’s being done; even though it’s two different diseases.“
She said one of the reasons why the event is so popular is because it is more of a social gathering than a competitive race.
“It is really important for everyone to realize that you don’t have to be considered an athlete to get out and enjoy some exercise,“ Beaton said.

“You don’t have to race, you don’t have to compete, just get out and walk along the beautiful river.“
Beaton said it is really rewarding to be involved with the fundraiser.

“When you live with type 1 diabetes every day, it is nice to have an event to mark the potential cure and to see that other people recognize it and to see how generous people are,“ she said.
Lucille Gauthier is a Kindergarten teacher at Whitehorse Elementary School. Gauthier took part in the fundraiser for the first time this year and wanted to support the cause in part because one of her students suffers from Type 1 diabetes.
Gauthier walked the course with a fairly large group of people, which included her four-year-old daughter as well as several students from her class.

She said she was glad about taking part.
“It was good,“ Gauthier said.

“It was beautiful weather, of course and there were so many people. It didn’t even feel like you were walking very far. All of the messages on the path as well; that was quite cool. On one of the electrical boxes, it said ‘go, go, go, cure diabetes.‘ It was great, it just kept you going.“
Gauthier was also involved in a week long fundraising and awareness campaign at Whitehorse Elementary, which concluded last Friday with a bake sale.
Gauthier said the whole experience of being involved with the event was rewarding.
“They made (more than) $21,000 today,“ she said. “I think that’s what amazes me and when people are together, we can make a difference.

Anything is possible and the people who are here are the people that care.

Everybody has either been touched by diabetes or knows someone who has it and they are here because they know how it affects you.“
Those interested in joining or assisting the Type 1 diabetes committee for this event can contact Araica McPhee at 456-7140.