Omaha-Council Bluffs Walk to Cure Diabetes This Saturday
More than 5,000 Walkers to Raise $1.1 million for
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF)
Omaha, Neb. (July 15, 2008) – More than 5,000 walkers representing local corporations, families, schools and other organizations are expected for the 17th annual Walk to Cure Diabetes for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). This year’s Walk to Cure Diabetes will be held on Saturday, August 9 from 8 to 11 a.m. at the Lewis & Clark Landing/Heartland of America Park. The goal of the Omaha-Council Bluffs Chapter is to raise more than $1.1 million for research to find a cure for diabetes and its complications. Gordmans is the presenting sponsor, and DTN is the platinum sponsor.
“Gordmans is proud to partner with JDRF on such an important goal – curing a disease that affects up to 3 million people in the United States,” said Jeff Gordman, President and CEO of Gordmans and this year’s JDRF corporate chairman. “When recent statistics reveal that healthcare expenditures for diabetes cost our nation more than $174 billion annually, we all must do our part and become committed to raising money for cutting-edge research. By working together we can and will make a difference.”
Entire families from kids to grandparents can participate in the Walk to Cure Diabetes – even though they may not be among the 14 million Americans with a personal connection to type 1 diabetes. At the Omaha-Council Bluffs Walk there will be clowns, children’s games, face painting and refreshments. The Walk to Cure Diabetes is approximately two miles long with a 3 mile option, starting and ending near the Lewis & Clark Landing/Heartland of America Park. On average, each walker raises $100 and funds can be turned in at registration in the Lewis & Clark Landing starting at 8 a.m.
“We appreciate the participation of Jeff Gordman and Gordmans’ employees,” said Ellen Wright, JDRF Omaha-Council Bluffs chapter president. “Jeff’s commitment allows us to accelerate research to find a cure for diabetes. Insulin is life support, not a cure and research is the only answer for the three million Americans living with type 1 diabetes and its complications.”
JDRF walks are held in more than 200 cities worldwide. Nationally, nearly 500,000 people walked to cure diabetes last year. Collectively, JDRF walks raised more than $98 million last year for diabetes research.
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JDRF is the world’s largest funder and advocate of type 1 diabetes research. The disease, which can strike in childhood, adolescence or adulthood, lasts a lifetime and requires multiple
injections of insulin daily or a continuous infusion of insulin through a pump and carries the constant threat of devastating complications including kidney failure, blindness, heart disease, stroke and amputation.
Structured on a business-world model that efficiently and effectively directs resources to research aimed at finding a cure as soon as possible, more than 86 percent of JDRF’s expenditures directly support research and research-related education. In FY 2007, JDRF provided more than $140 million to diabetes research and is responsible for more than $1.16 billion in direct funding since it was founded. Since 2005, JDRF fundraising activities have provided more than $1 million to Nebraska research facilities.
JDRF’s mission is constant: To find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research.
To find out more about how you or your company can participate in the JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes, call (402) 397-CURE (2873) or e-mail omaha@jdrf.org. To register, please visit www.jdrf.org/walk.