Walk to Cure Diabetes

Melburnians are being encouraged to get down to Docklands on Thursday, October 7, for the inaugural Twilight Walk held by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).

The Walk to Cure Diabetes event, which hopes to increase awareness and funds for type 1 (juvenile) diabetes, is aiming to attract between 500 and 700 corporate, family and individual walkers.

Lord Mayor Robert Doyle will be attending the walk, in support of the 140,000 Australians affected by juvenile diabetes, as the event’s official ambassador for 2010.

The traditional walk event, which has been held at Albert Park Lake for the past 16 years, will still take place in the morning with the twilight walk at Docklands starting at 5.30pm.

The walk is expected to take 20-30 minutes and there will be live music, giveaways and discounted drink and food at Waterfront City afterwards.

The Walk to Cure Diabetes is taking place at more than 20 locations nationally and is expected to attract 40,000 walkers in the hope of raising $2million to find a cure for the disease.

Mike Wilson, CEO of JDRF, said the Walk to Cure Diabetes was important because type 1 diabetes doesn’t just affect individuals but families, friends and workmates too.

“The Walk to Cure Diabetes gives everyone who shares the hope of finding a cure for type 1 diabetes the chance to come together to celebrate research progress and pay tribute to those scientists who take us closer every year to a cure for type 1 diabetes,”  Mr Wilson said.

“Funds raised at the Walk to Cure Diabetes are part of a critical investment in Australian research. Type 1 diabetes is the fastest growing chronic disease amongst Australian children and every single day, six more aussies are diagnosed. This situation is urgent.”