ALBEMARLE COUNTY, Va. (CBS19 NEWS) — The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) raised more than $20,000 as part of a local “One Walk” to raise awareness and fight for a cure for type 1 diabetes.
“Our main goal is to raise funds for the research needed to treat, prevent and ultimately cure type 1 diabetes,” said organizer Anna Passero.
On Saturday, JDRF hosted a community walk in the Charlottesville area to raise funds to support further research and finding a cure for type 1 diabetes.
The original goal was $20,000, but Charlottesville far exceeded that, raising nearly $25,000 before the event began, and event coordinator Anna Passero said the money will make a big difference.
“They’re funding research — different doctors, hospitals and organizations that are working to treat, prevent and hopefully cure type 1 diabetes,” Passero said.
Passero’s personal connection to the disease inspired her to organize JDRF’s “One Walk.”
“My husband has had Type 1 diabetes for over 35 years and our little son, Griffin, was diagnosed two years ago at age 2,” Passero said.
Passero says the disease has had a major impact on her family’s daily life.
“It requires a lot of daily maintenance — constant insulin, carb counting and a lot of activity monitoring. It’s a disease that has a huge impact on their lives and is very misunderstood,” Passero said.
While JDRF focuses on research and finding cures, Passero says there’s a lot more to the organization than that.
“They love hosting these events and family support groups and things like that to raise community awareness around the disease,” Passero said.
JDRF says it has raised more than $1.3 million for type 1 diabetes research across the Mid-Atlantic region and more than $30 million nationwide.
