Thousands Walk To Raise Money For Diabetes Research, Cure

WARREN (WWJ) - It's a disease that affects millions in the U.S.

Some six-thousand people walked to raise money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund Sunday in Warren.

Officials tell WWJ's Beth Fisher that about one million dollars was raised by volunteers.

Local fund Executive Director Kate Durak spoke with Fisher about the 2013 Walk to Cure Diabetes:

"... (it) raises money for research, into the cure, treatment and prevention of diabetes - so all the money that we raise goes into a big research pool - that then gets distributed throughout the world to the most leading edge research projects," she said.

Durak says that there are better treatments for diabetes and they are closer to a cure.

Edna Young of Highland Park had diabetes for 30 years before undergoing a kidney and pancreas transplant.

Young feels confident that a cure is within sight.

"Everyone supports it ... and I still support it ... I never think never," Young said.

Cindy Thomason of Sterling Heights walked because her 35-year-old was diagnosed when he was younger.

"We were totally shocked because he 19 and had lost a bunch of weight," said Thomason. "Then he was drinking a lot of liquids and just constant and he was unable to sleep."

About 40 million people suffer from diabetes - about 3 million with Type 1 diabetes.

Find out more information about juvenile diabetes - HERE.