Wisconsin: Walk(s) for a good cause - Diabetes, Arthritis (May 20th), Crohn's

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: Walk for a good cause

Posted May 6, 2006

http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060506/APC0404/60506056\

3/1428/APClife

If getting out to enjoy the nice weather and adding in a little exercise is

on your agenda for the next few weekends, consider also raising some money

and awareness for some good causes.

Three organizations will be holding their annual walk-a-thons in the coming

weeks in hopes of helping to find cures for some very serious illnesses.

First off is the Northeast Wisconsin Chapter of Juvenile Diabetes

Foundation's " Walk to Cure Diabetes, " which is slated for May 20 in Neenah's

Riverside Park.

Juvenile, or Type I, diabetes, usually strikes children and affects as many

as 3 million Americans. It's an autoimmune disease that leaves the pancreas

unable to produce insulin, the critical hormone required for the body to

metabolize sugar. Currently, there is no cure for the disease.

Greg and , of Appleton, have once again assembled " Darby's Team, "

a crew of about 30 walkers.

Their daughter, Darby, 9, was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes when she was

3. For the past six years, the family has learned to count carbs, manage her

blood sugar levels and carefully control her diet and exercise.

Though they've learned to manage the disease, with the help of a team of

doctor's and Darby's insulin pump, they remain hopeful Darby will see a cure

in her lifetime.

" We need to not just further improve the management of the disease, but work

on funding research to find a cure, " said Greg .

Last year, the event raised about $500,000; organizers hope to raise even

more this year.

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Also on May 20 is the Arthritis Walk, planned for Lion's Park in Greenville.

In Wisconsin alone, arthritis affects more than 1.1 million people.

Money raised from the walk will benefit research and programs and services

offered by the Arthritis Foundation of Northeastern Wisconsin. Last year,

the event raised $31,000.

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Finally, Wisconsin's Fuller Foundation for Crohn's will hold a walk June 3

at High Cliff State Park in Sherwood to raise money for the Crohn's and

Colitis Foundation of America.

Crohn's disease is a bowel disease that causes inflammation of the digestive

tract, often in the small or large intestine.

" I thought I had appendicitis, " said Jansen, 36, of Kaukauna, who was

diagnosed with Crohn's in 2001.

But her abdominal pain and unexplained fevers led to tests that revealed

ulcers in her intestines that had formed abscesses.

A couple of surgeries and several stressful years later, Jansen now manages

her disease with medication and a healthy lifestyle.

" I will be out walking, " said Jansen, who since being diagnosed has become a

tri-athlete. " It's nice to have this event to raise awareness. "

The event raised about $25,000 last year.