Note: before you begin, be sure that you have registered for the 2012 Walk to Cure Diabetes.  If you have not yet, go to http://walk.jdrf.org, register, and then return to this page to register for a Kick Off event.

What’s Next?

Start fundraising! All your fundraising is done online in the Participant Center at http://walk.jdrf.org. The powerful fundraising tools available in the Participant Center will make reaching your fundraising minimum fast and easy.

Why Is There A Fundraising Minimum To Attend the Kick Off?

More than 80% of JDRF’s expenditures support research and research related education. To ensure that we are able to continue this level of efficiency, we ask that those attending a Kick Off meet a fundraising minimum amount. Don’t worry: these dollars raised will count toward your Walk fundraising total and allows critical and groundbreaking research to continue and to help us achieve our goals to cure, better treat, and prevent T1D.

If you have any questions about this requirement, or would like assistance with your fundraising, please contact Simone Price at (415) 597-6319 or sprice@jdrf.org.

Peter Draeger has a pointed commitment – to help fund research that will lead curing T1D in his children’s lifetime. He has felt aligned with JDRF on this commitment since both of his sons were diagnosed with the disease over a decade ago. He says, “JDRF’s mission is what most attracted me to the organization and the Walk is the best vehicle for carrying out that mission.”

Peter’s team, known as Draeger’s Epicures for the Cure, walks as a family and as owners of a gourmet food establishment, Draeger’s Market, also sponsors and supplies refreshments for the Walk in Silicon Valley. They sell JDRF sneakers in their stores, draw in their community schools and Boy Scouts, and they are not shy about asking everyone they know to support their team. Passionate and gregarious, Peter finds himself humbled by the outpouring of generosity. He says, “If you think people don’t care, just try forming a team this year. You’ll find out what makes people feel good about themselves, and it’ll change your outlook too. The funny thing is, if by mistake, one of my letters doesn’t reach a patron or is late, I often get a phone call about it. They want to know why they didn’t get a letter and where to send their check!”

Even with his strong focus on fundraising, Peter can’t help but feel uplifted when he sees the strength in the tremendous number of people who show up on Walk Day. He says, “…watch what happens to folks who walk. As they make their way along the route, they experience some of the greatest moral support a T1D family can get!”

Peter says that heroes are everyday people. “Forget the home run kings and ace quarterbacks or the Hollywood Ramboes. Heroes are the ones who give in a big way by doing small things that neither personally reward nor recognize. You are the hero who raised that last dollar necessary to cure T1D. Every Walker is a hero.”

Savannah Smoley is a teen with a dream. She says, “I want to find a cure for all those living with what I deal with on a daily/hourly basis, and also to increase the scientific education on T1D to help prevent others from ever getting the disease.” It was already personal to her when her little cousin was diagnosed 10 years ago, and today she is even more determined to make her dream come true. So, Savannah brought her family together to form a team, Steppin’ for Smoles, for the Walk to Cure Diabetes.

Savannah was diagnosed with T1D at the age of 15 in 2010. With so many changes and challenges already prevalent in the teenage years, the news was a tough blow. But Savannah did not take it sitting down and neither did her family. “To me, there is nothing as touching as having all my friends and family walk with me to help fight my hardest life battle,” she says. Their impressive fundraising efforts are inspired by Savannah’s dream for a cure for herself, her cousin and everyone else who lives with T1D. “I believe every step and every dollar brings us that much closer to a cure. And for that, I would walk 100 miles a day,” she says smiling.

What is a hero? Savannah answers, “I consider those working daily on finding a cure and advancing medications to be heroes. Most importantly to me, my friends and family are heroes for giving up at least one entire day a year to walk for, and with, me.”

Kathy Lockwood belongs to a club she never wanted to join – families who live with T1D. But now that she is in it, she is doing everything she can so that her son, Quinn will not have to be a member forever. That’s why she and her family have been participating in the Walk to Cure Diabetes every year since Quinn was diagnosed in 2009.

Team Lockwood supports the Walk because fundraising for JDRF helps to move research along that has made a real difference in their lives. Kathy says, “My son is only four years old and he has a pump, a continuous glucose monitor and a hope that he won’t have to use them forever. All of that is possible due to funds raised by JDRF.”

On Walk Day, Kathy and her family enjoy spending time with other members of the “club” who have become good friends over the years. She says, “I believe I am teaching my child that as a community we can fight this fight together. We don’t have to do this alone.”

Kathy says that heroes come in many different forms – from the kind doctor who has taken care of Quinn since he was diagnosed at 18 months to all the parents who take care of their children with T1D, including those with adult children who still walk to find a cure.

The Gailmard family is a force to be reckoned with. Standing in the face of adversity, they are an example of true resilience. Three of the five Gailmards were diagnosed with T1D within the last two years – first Aidan, at age four in 2010, then his dad a few months later, and then Collin at age four in 2011. Aidan and Collin have a brother, William who remains in the pre-diabetic stage. Very quickly, this inspirational family rallied together, gathered their friends, and formed one of the East Bay’s largest Walk Teams, The G-Force.

What motivates them? Gina Gailmard responds, “We believe it takes every single one of us working within our communities to raise awareness and support for JDRF…our family believes we must model and demonstrate to our children how to be proactive and give back to the causes that mean so much to us.”

By the time Walk Day comes around, The G-Force is ready to have fun and celebrate. Gina says, “There’s nothing better than the look of sheer joy and excitement on William, Aidan, and Collin’s faces! The boys are always so excited to feel a part of something so big and important–and doing it with friends and family is the best feeling ever.”

Gina admires her sons whom she calls heroes: “They face the countless finger pokes, injections, site changes, highs, lows, and everything else in between with such a great amount of strength and fortitude–never letting diabetes get in the way of living life with joy, love, and happiness!” She continues to reflect on what it means to be a hero and says, “Also, the pioneers researching prevention, better treatment, and a cure are the heroes who our children look up to with great admiration and hope.”

Keeping it straightforward, nine-year old Tristan Cayolle says, “I support the Walk because I want to help find a cure.” He has been walking with his family, calling themselves Team Tristan Cayolle, for several years since he was diagnosed with T1D.

Team Tristan Cayolle is grateful to everyone who comes to the Walk to support their cause each year. The team gets very energized as the big day approaches, excited to see everyone there for Tristan. His mother, Kristina says, “It’s not just Walk day for us. It’s Tristan’s day to be the star.” She is very proud of her son who rarely complains about the daily multiple finger pricks and management of T1D. So, for Team Tristan Cayolle, the Walk is also a celebration of his bravery.

Besides having fun that day, Tristan says, “It’s important to raise money so that scientists can do their research and cure my diabetes.” The team works hard to fundraise each year and is always motivated by friends, family and co-workers who are willing to donate so generously. They will keep walking until a cure is found.

Reflecting on what it means to be a hero, Kristina says, “My definition of a hero is someone brave like Tristan who has to endure a life with diabetes with such a positive attitude.”

A certain 10-year old soccer champ kicks it up at the Walk to Cure Diabetes. Diagnosed with T1D at age five, Joey Hagen is a happy, athletic and charismatic boy. “Even so,” says his mother Julie Stein, “living with someone who bears the weight of this disease is, at times, heartbreaking. Those with a passing knowledge of T1D do not generally understand the extreme complexity of the condition and the many things that must be done each and every day and night to manage it.” That’s why Joey’s family decided to form a Walk team, Joey’s Jammers, to increase awareness and raise money to help find a cure.

The team looks forward to the enormous energy and sense of community that they experience at the Walk each year. Julie says, “The Walk enables me and my family to do something positive to show our love and support for Joey and, of course, for all of the other millions of people living with T1D.” They have become avid fundraisers, recognizing that research is critical but requires money. Julie continues, “The Walk is one of many important vehicles out there that raises important funding for the many facets of research, medical advances and advocacy …to not only find a cure but also to ease the burden in the lives of those that currently have the disease.”

Joey doesn’t let T1D stop him from doing anything, including winning soccer trophies. He impresses his mother every day. When asked what her definition of a hero is, Julie is quick to answer, “Joseph Ryan Hagen!”

Kelli Limi likes to meet other people who live with T1D. Diagnosed at the age of two, this walker is inspired by everyone who participates in the Walk to Cure Diabetes each year. She says she enjoys “seeing all the people with T1D and knowing that we all share something that most of our friends and family don’t understand.” In fact, she bonds with people living with T1D all over the world. On a recent tour of Italy, Kelli met three people who have T1D, two from Australia and one from Kuwait. She plans to stay in touch.

“Supporting this cause is very special to me,” says Kelli. She recognizes that through her childhood and still today, JDRF has always been the leader in fundraising for research to find a cure. She says, “Each year the advancements are stronger and help diabetics live better lives.” She is so devoted that in addition to fundraising for the Walk, she also volunteers her time as a Walk Committee Member in Monterey Bay.

For Kelli, a hero is “someone who stands up for what they believe in and does something that makes life better for everyone.”

East Bay company, USS-POSCO Industries (UPI) has been walking for 20 years. If the average Walk to Cure Diabetes is two miles, that’s 40 miles of walking. Calculating that total with nearly 70 employees walking each year, Team UPI has logged in approximately 2,800 miles! That is tremendous trekking.

But equally impressive is the fact that, by participating in the Walk year after year, Team UPI has raised more than $1,500,000 for diabetes research. As a result, they have consistently earned the title of JDRF’s highest producing corporate Walk team in the Bay Area.

Why do they do it? Cory Anderson, Senior General Attorney at UPI, says, “Many of us have friends or relatives who are affected by T1D and the difficult challenges they face. We also know that JDRF has helped to improve their lives dramatically, while also drawing closer to a cure.” The company encourages their staff to use their time and talents to support the Walk. Employees enjoy the challenge of coming up with creative and new ways to raise money. These efforts also benefit the company, bringing out teamwork and camaraderie along with a little bit if competition.

But the team’s underlying incentive for walking each year is always to help find a cure for T1D. Cory acknowledges his teammates and says, “A hero to me is anyone who is dedicated and willing to do whatever is needed to help others, and who motivates others to help, without expecting anything in return.”

Kick Off Events

Registration is now open! Click here to register for one of our fabulous Kick Off events.

MUG Root Beer Float Day with the Oakland Athletics
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
5:00 PM Kick Off 7:05 PM Game
O.co Coliseum, Oakland

Shoreline Lake Aquatic Center & Café
Friday, July 13, 2012
11:30 AM to 2:00 PM
Mountain View

T1D Night with the San Francisco Giants
Friday, August 10, 2012
5:00 PM Kick Off 7:15 PM game
AT&T Park, San Francisco

Saturday, August 25
Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Red Bull Center, Monterey
11:00 AM to 2:00 PM

Walk to Cure Diabetes Events

Register today for the 2012 Walk to Cure Diabetes! Can’t make it on Walk Day? Don’t worry, you can still be a hero and fundraise as a virtual walker.

Sunday, October 7
California’s Great America, Santa Clara

Sunday, October 14
Oakland Zoo, Oakland

Saturday, October 20
Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey

Sunday, October 28
Great Meadow at Fort Mason, San Francisco